​The University of Jordan (UJ) is taking Key role in the Preparedness for Operational Monitoring and Prediction of contaminant Transport in the Sea Project "PROMPT", a pioneering initiative funded under the Union Civil Protection Mechanism, showcasing its commitment to fostering sustainable development at both regional and global levels.

The project, which commenced in 2023 and is set to conclude in early 2025, is primarily focused on the development of advanced tools and strategies for monitoring, tracing, and predicting oil spills and other polluting materials in the marine environment.

Project coordinator from the School of Science, Dr. Riyad Manasrah, emphasized the university's significant contributions, particularly in the development of a mathematical model to simulate the dispersion of oil spills and chemical substances in various coastal areas, including the Jordanian coast in the Gulf of Aqaba.

The project was officially launched in Genoa, Italy, on 30 May 2023, hosted by the project leader, the University of Genoa (Italy). Joining them at the forefront of this endeavor are the University of Jordan (Jordan), the Institute of Environmental Hydraulics of Cantabria (Spain), PM_TEN (Italy), WASDI SARL (Luxembourg), the Office for the Exploitation of the Port of Tripoli (Lebanon), and the European Research Institute. During the inaugural meeting, the participants discussed the project's objectives, strategies, and expected outcomes.

Subsequently, on September 18th and 19th, the Institute of Environmental Hydraulics of Cantabria (IHCantabria) in Santander, Spain, hosted a series of technical meetings. These meetings brought together representatives from the seven partner entities of the "PROMPT" project to review its progress and discuss its international projection.

The PROMPT project's main activities include creating dispersion models for harbor waters and volatile substances related to oil and HNS spills, developing algorithms for detecting oil spills and tracking lost containers via satellite images, and training and transferring knowledge to local operators in the European Neighborhood Policy countries, namely Lebanon and Jordan.

The PROMPT project involves partners from Lebanon, Jordan, Spain, and Italy. The project seeks to enhance the Decision Support System (DSS) initially developed within the European project BE-READY. This upgraded DSS aims to bolster responses to marine pollution, particularly the atmospheric dispersion of volatile components from oil and Hazardous-Noxious-Substances (HNS) spills.

The project, with its collaborative and innovative approach, holds immense potential to address the pressing issue of marine pollution. By leveraging advanced technologies, fostering international cooperation, and emphasizing knowledge transfer, the project aims to create a lasting impact, ensuring a safer and more environmentally friendly marine ecosystem for future generations.