International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments is set for adoption in 2004.
The IMO's Marine Environment Protection Committee, at its 49th session in July 2003, agreed a finalized draft of the proposed International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments, and agreed to hold a diplomatic conference from 9 to13 February 2004 to adopt the Convention in accordance with the agreed timetable already approved by the IMO Council.
The Committee conducted an article-by-article review of the draft, taking into account the report of the second inter-sessional meeting of the Ballast Water Working Group.
The problem of harmful aquatic organisms in ballast water was first raised at IMO in 1988 and since then the MEPC, together with MSC and technical sub-committees, has been dealing with the issue. In order to help developing countries understand the problem and monitor the situation, IMO is implementing the GEF/UNDP/ IMO Global Ballast Water Management Programme (GloBallast) and has provided technical support and expertise.
Bio invasion
The problem of invasive species is largely due to the expanded trade and traffic volume over the last few decades. The effects in many areas of the world have been devastating.
Quantitative data shows the rate of bio-invasions is continuing to increase at an alarming rate, in many cases exponentially, and new areas are being invaded all the time. Volumes of seaborne trade continue overall to increase and the problem may not yet have reached its peak.
It is estimated that about 10 billion tonnes of ballast water are transferred globally each year, potentially transferring from one location to another species of sealife that may prove ecologically harmful when released into a non-native environment.
The proposed new instrument is being developed on the basis of a two-tier approach:
l Tier 1 includes requirements that would apply to all ships, including mandatory requirements for a Ballast Water and Sediments Management Plan, a Ballast Water Record Book and a requirement that new ships shall carry out ballast water and sediment management procedures to a given standard or range of standards. Existing ships would be required to carry out ballast water management procedures after a phase-in period, but these procedures may differ from those to be applied to new ships.
l Tier 2 includes special requirements which may apply in certain areas and would include procedures and criteria for the designation of such areas in which additional controls may be applied to the discharge and/or uptake of ballast water. The text for Tier 2 remains to be developed.
The member countries of IMO have developed voluntary guidelines for the control and management of ships' ballast water, to minimise the transfer of harmful aquatic organisms and pathogens. These guidelines were adopted by the IMO Assembly in 1997, by resolution A.868(20). They replace earlier, less comprehensive voluntary guidelines adopted in 1993. Management and control measures recommended by the guidelines include:
l Minimising the uptake of organisms during ballasting, by avoiding areas in ports where populations of harmful organisms are known to occur, in shallow water and in darkness, when bottom-dwelling organisms may rise in the water column.
l Cleaning ballast tanks and removing muds and sediments that accumulate in these tanks on a regular basis, which may harbour harmful organisms.
l Avoiding unnecessary discharge of ballast.
l Undertaking ballast water management procedures, including:
1. Exchanging ballast water at sea, replacing it with 'clean' open ocean water. Any marine species taken on at the source port are less likely to survive in the open ocean, where environmental conditions are different from coastal and port waters.
2. Non-release or minimal release of ballast water.
3. Discharge to onshore reception and treatment facilities.
Model management plan
The shipping industry has also been very active in helping to address invasive marine species and participates actively in the IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) Ballast Water Working Group. In particular, the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and the International Association of Independent Tanker Owners (INTERTANKO) have published an excellent Model Ballast Water Management Plan. This gives practical guidance for the implementation of the IMO voluntary guidelines on board ships. The Model can be purchased from ICS.
For more information contact ICS ics@marisec.org
Ballast water ? The problem
he introduction of invasive marine species into new environments by ships? ballast water, attached to ships? hulls and via other vectors has been identified as one of the four greatest threats to the world?s oceans. The other three are land-based sources of marine pollution, overexploitation of living marine resources and physical alteration/destruction of marine habitat.
Shipping moves over 80% of the world?s commodities and transfers approximately 3 to 5 billion tonnes of ballast water internationally each year. A similar volume may also be transferred domestically within countries and regions each year. Whilst ballast water is absolutely essential to the safe and efficient operation of modern shipping, it may also pose a serious ecological, economic and health threat.
The problem of invasive species is largely due to the expanded trade and traffic volume over the last few decades. The effects in many areas of the world have been devastating.
Quantitative data show the rate of bio-invasions is continuing to increase at an alarming rate, in many cases exponentially, and new areas are being invaded all the time. Volumes of seaborne trade continue overall to increase and the problem may not yet have reached its peak.
IMO is developing mandatory regulations to address the problem and a diplomatic Conference is scheduled for February 2004 to adopt a new International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments.
The Organization has joined forces with the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), individual countries and the private sector to implement the GloBallast Programme, which is an international technical co-operation programme executed by IMO, with funding from GEF, through UNDP, and with support from individual countries and the shipping industry. GloBallast activities commenced in March 2000.
