France, Italy and Monaco stage joint pollution drill at sea
By Zak Jackson, MonacoViews Editorial
A major anti-pollution exercise was held off Monaco on Friday to mark the 50th anniversary of the Ramoge Agreement between France, Italy and the Principality.
Vessels from France, Italy and Monaco gathered in waters off the Principality on Friday for a large-scale anti-pollution drill, staged to mark half a century of the Ramoge Agreement. The trilateral accord, which has governed maritime environmental cooperation along the Ligurian and Provençal coastlines since 1976, provided the framework for one of the most visible joint exercises the three nations have conducted in recent years.
The Ramoge Agreement covers the stretch of sea running from Marseille to Genoa, with Monaco positioned at its heart. Friday's operation brought together maritime response assets from all three signatories, testing coordinated containment and clean-up procedures in open water. For residents and boaters in and around Port Hercule and the waters beyond Fontvieille, the drill underlined how seriously Monaco treats its obligations as both a coastal state and a steward of Mediterranean waters.
The 50th anniversary marks a significant milestone for a compact that predates many of today's international marine environment conventions. Monaco has long positioned itself as an advocate for ocean protection, and exercises of this kind reinforce the practical side of that commitment alongside the scientific and diplomatic work carried out through institutions such as the Institut Océanographique.