EUROPEAN Union funding is beefing up contingency plans in the event of an oil or chemical spill off the Jurassic coast.

An international collaborative project costing six million euros has been launched involving countries around the Atlantic arc - France, Spain, Ireland, Portugal and the UK.

EROCIPS (Emergency Response to Oil, Chemical and Inert Pollution from Shipping) will develop a common understanding of, and approach to, the threat of coastal pollution from shipping.

In Dorset concerns have been raised about ship-to-ship transfers of heavy oil off Lyme Bay.

Legislation is being drawn up to regulate the practice and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency is monitoring a voluntary ban - which the vessels have so far adhered to.

Dorset County Council and Devon County Council's element of the EROCIPS project will receive up to £671,000 from government and the EU.

Simon Wilkins, project manager, said: "This project means we can quickly identify resources and personnel to help clear up and mitigate the effects on the environment, fishing and tourism."

A number of major oil spills, including the catastrophic incidents involving the vessels Erika off Brittany in 1999 and the Prestige off Spain in 2002, convinced authorities that a collaborative approach would best serve national economy and environmental interests.

The project covers coastal protection and clean-up strategies, pollution mapping and modelling to help predict the outcome of likely pollution incidents, and response management.

First published: May 9