UK P&I Club issues Lega Briefing on BWM in US
The United States Coast Guard has recently posted two useful updates to its resource page on ballast water management. Its extensive list of frequently asked questions (FAQ) on the subject clarifies topics ranging from the definition and applicability of ballast water standards through to type approval of ballast water management systems. These FAQs were augmented and updated on the 5th April.
The UK P&I Club has published a Legal Briefing seeking an overview of the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments.
The IMO also maintains a useful web resource on ballast water management covering the convention, ballast water management technology, a review of the commonest invasive aquatic species as well as their own FAQ list.
On 13th February 2004, the IMO adopted the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments.
The purpose of the Convention is to develop a safer and more effective management of ballast water that would eliminate the risk of harmful aquatic organisms and pathogens spreading from one part of the world to another causing harm to the environment, human health and property.
The Convention aims to achieve this objective by instituting a series of regulations to manage the transfer and the discharge of ships’ ballast water.
The main obligation of the Convention is for parties to undertake certain actions in order to prevent, minimize and ultimately eliminate the transfer of harmful aquatic organisms and pathogens through the control and management of the ships’ ballast water and sediments.
You may dowload the UK P&I Club Legal Briefing here
Source: The UK P&I Club