The "Polmar terre" plan was activated on Tuesday by the Prefect of the Var, following the arrival of oil slicks, particularly on the beaches of Ramatuelle, Saint-Tropez and Saint-Maxime.
According to an information sheet available on the government’s website, the Polmar (maritime pollution) land plan, triggered by the prefects, enables "to identify the nature of the pollution, determine the extent of the impact and the affected environment, and carry out clean-up operations".
According to the Mediterranean Maritime Prefecture, weather conditions are complicating clean-up operations at sea. Since the collision, more than twelve vessels have recovered over 1,000 m³ of a mixture of fuel and seawater.
OIL SPILL: The POLMAR Terre plan, designed to manage oil pollution, has just been activated. The Prefecture reminds the public not to “touch or attempt to collect the oil slicks” themselves. #OilSpill pic.twitter.com/DYldanH0Vw
— Infos Françaises (@InfosFrancaises) 16 October 2018