NEWS: Slovenian Maritime Administration prepares to host ASAP POLex 2026 in Koper

The Slovenian Maritime Administration (SMA), partner of the ASAP project, is preparing to host POLex 2026, the project’s second international marine pollution response exercise, taking place in Koper, Slovenia, on 23–24 September 2026.
Preparedness for marine pollution emergencies begins long before an incident occurs. It relies on effective planning, coordinated procedures, regular training and strong cooperation between the authorities responsible for protecting our shared seas.
This is at the heart of the role of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy – Slovenian Maritime Administration (SMA) within the ASAP project.
As Slovenia’s national authority responsible for maritime safety and marine pollution response, SMA brings its operational expertise to the project to help strengthen preparedness and cross-border cooperation across the Adriatic.
Within ASAP, SMA contributes in particular to the development and testing of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), joint training activities and operational exercises, while fostering stronger cooperation among national authorities responsible for responding to marine pollution emergencies.
From cooperation to action: POLex 2026
This work will be put into practice on 23–24 September 2026, when SMA hosts POLex 2026 in Koper, the second international marine pollution response exercise organised within the ASAP project.
Over two days, the event will combine an international at-sea exercise, testing of Standard Operating Procedures, study visits and networking activities, bringing together national marine pollution response authorities and European agencies.
The exercise will simulate a major hydrocarbon spill in the North Adriatic, providing participating organisations with an opportunity to test operational response capabilities, coordination mechanisms and cross-border cooperation in a realistic scenario.
POLex 2026 will also build on the experience and lessons learned during the Adriatic Sea SARex/POLex 2025 exercise held in Dubrovnik, taking another step towards stronger and more coordinated preparedness across the Adriatic-Ionian region.
Representatives of European agencies, including the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA), European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA) and Frontex, are also expected to participate, reinforcing cooperation between national and European actors involved in maritime safety and emergency response.
By bringing partners together to train, test procedures and learn from one another, POLex 2026 reflects one of ASAP’s central principles: protecting a shared sea requires partners who are ready to train together before they need to respond together.

Check out the agenda of our two-day POLex 2026 event: POLex_2026_AGENDA_F_updated