Indonesia has become the latest flag state to sign the Ballast Water Management (BWM) convention, an act which may finally secure the 35% of tonnage needed to bring it into force. The Asian nation signed the convention on 24th November, a mere day after Morocco also signed on and pushed the support to 32.93% of world tonnage.
At time of press, the IMO was yet to confirm if the tonnage from the 46th flag state signatory was enough to tip the convention in to force. The GEF-UNDP-IMO GloBallast Partnerships Programme has advised that tonnage figures are currently being updated with latest 2015 data.
“The figures are very close, formal verification process will conclude as soon as possible. Announcement ASAP,” the IMO exclusively told The Marine Professional.
Industry opinion is split as to whether Indonesia has sufficient tonnage, but a number of sources have indicated that there is a 47th signatory in the pipeline that is expected to sign up this week. Sources have informed The Marine Professional that Finland is most likely to be the rumoured flag state, meaning that the convention will finally enter into force.
The BWM convention’s entry into force will ensure that all ships (regardless of size) that are designed to carry dischargeable ballast water, must install and implement a ballast water management system at the first renewal survey.
Source: IMarEST
Welcome News.
The BWM System is very important for Marine Ecology because it ensures that all vessels, especially Oil Tankers & Bulk Carriers, exchange their BALLAST in Deep Oceans, {in Pelagic Fishing Areas}, instead of at a Port where waters are shallower {Demersal Fishing Areas}, thus helping to prevent Marine Organisms endemic to each Local Area from being threatened for survival by new species introduced by Ship’s Ballast Water Discharges in Port whilst Loading etc.