Oil Spill statistics from SAR images in the North Eastern Baltic Sea ship route in 2007–2009

A large number of illegal oil pollutions impose considerable threat to marine environment especially in marginal seas like the Baltic Sea. Illegal spills are mainly detected on essential navigation routes. The monitoring of Oil Spills (OS) using remote sensing imagery (SAR data) was performed on the northeastern Baltic Sea ship route. The pre-analyzed satellite images for detecting marine pollution were provided to marine surveillance agency in Estonia. Out of 137 detected potential pollutions 76 were confirmed by aerial surveillance missions within two-year period. OS were mainly of low confidence, had small area, low contrast with surrounding water and smeared edges. The entrance to the Gulf of Finland was classified as the area where illegal spills of oil and bilge water take place, mainly. Between 30-50% of actual oil pollutions are not detected by SAR.