Lessons Learned from the French Drift Committee (CODER): An Operational, Collaborative Approach to Refine Oil Drift Modeling at Sea—Case Study of the RAMOGEPOL 2025 Exercise
Abstract
Marine oil spill management requires rapid and accurate forecasts to mitigate environmental and operational risks. Created in 2002 during the Prestige spill and formally established in 2006, the French Drift Committee (CODER) unites expertise from CEDRE, Météo-France, Ifremer and Shom to refine oil drift modeling and response strategies. CODER’s operational scope combines multi-model forecasting, including MOTHY and OILMAP, integrated with real-time observations from drifting buoys, satellite/aerial observations and high-resolution environmental data, such as Copernicus Marine Environment Monitoring Service (CMEMS) current forecasts and Météo-France’s ARPEGE and AROME wind models. Annual exercises, such as RAMOGEPOL 2025, provide a controlled environment to test model performance in diverse hydrodynamic conditions and recalibrate simulations using real-time buoy data. During this exercise, the French Navy’s Anti-Pollution Practical Expertise Center (CEPPOL) deployed buoys in the Mediterranean Sea, off the coast of Saint-Tropez, France, in both the Northern Current and wind-driven coastal waters, enabling CODER to assess model performance and refine simulations by comparing buoy trajectories with model outputs. This process enhances the accuracy of drift predictions, improves the understanding of local hydrodynamics, and identifies models’ strengths and limitations. By systematically evaluating and adjusting models using operational data, CODER strengthens the reliability of drift forecasts, ensuring more effective and adaptive responses to marine pollution incidents.
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BibTeX
@article{martin2026lessons,
title = {{Lessons Learned from the French Drift Committee (CODER): An Operational, Collaborative Approach to Refine Oil Drift Modeling at Sea—Case Study of the RAMOGEPOL 2025 Exercise}},
author = {Simon Martin and Vincent Gouriou and Edmée Durand and Coralline Nicolas and Gauthier Dupire and Morgane Mignot and Yann Ferret and Stephanie Louazel and Jean-Francois Le Roux and Valérie Ulvoas},
journal = {Journal of Marine Science and Engineering},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.3390/jmse14151427},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05854070v1},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Lessons Learned from the French Drift Committee (CODER): An Operational, Collaborative Approach to Refine Oil Drift Modeling at Sea—Case Study of the RAMOGEPOL 2025 Exercise
AU - Simon Martin
AU - Vincent Gouriou
AU - Edmée Durand
AU - Coralline Nicolas
AU - Gauthier Dupire
AU - Morgane Mignot
AU - Yann Ferret
AU - Stephanie Louazel
AU - Jean-Francois Le Roux
AU - Valérie Ulvoas
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/05
JO - Journal of Marine Science and Engineering
DO - 10.3390/jmse14151427
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05854070v1
AB - Marine oil spill management requires rapid and accurate forecasts to mitigate environmental and operational risks. Created in 2002 during the Prestige spill and formally established in 2006, the French Drift Committee (CODER) unites expertise from CEDRE, Météo-France, Ifremer and Shom to refine oil drift modeling and response strategies. CODER’s operational scope combines multi-model forecasting, including MOTHY and OILMAP, integrated with real-time observations from drifting buoys, satellite/aerial observations and high-resolution environmental data, such as Copernicus Marine Environment Monitoring Service (CMEMS) current forecasts and Météo-France’s ARPEGE and AROME wind models. Annual exercises, such as RAMOGEPOL 2025, provide a controlled environment to test model performance in diverse hydrodynamic conditions and recalibrate simulations using real-time buoy data. During this exercise, the French Navy’s Anti-Pollution Practical Expertise Center (CEPPOL) deployed buoys in the Mediterranean Sea, off the coast of Saint-Tropez, France, in both the Northern Current and wind-driven coastal waters, enabling CODER to assess model performance and refine simulations by comparing buoy trajectories with model outputs. This process enhances the accuracy of drift predictions, improves the understanding of local hydrodynamics, and identifies models’ strengths and limitations. By systematically evaluating and adjusting models using operational data, CODER strengthens the reliability of drift forecasts, ensuring more effective and adaptive responses to marine pollution incidents.
SN - 2077-1312
ER -