The number of states signed up to IMO’s Ballast Water Management Convention has reached 61, with Honduras being the latest country acceding to the treaty, on 10 July, according to IMO.
The signatories now represent 68.46 % of the world’s merchant fleet tonnage. Under the treaty, ships are required to manage their ballast water, which can contain thousands of aquatic or marine microbes, plants and organisms, which are then carried across the globe.
H.E. Mr. Ivan Romero Martinez, Ambassador of Honduras to the United Kingdom and Permanent Representative of Honduras to the IMO, met IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim at IMO Headquarters, London to deposit the instrument of accession.
In June, Australia, Bahamas, Singapore and UAE also became members of the BWM treaty.
The Convention, that is entering into force on 8 September 2017, foresees that, eventually, most ships will need to install an on-board ballast water treatment system.
Click here to find out the latest amendments on the BWTS implementation, agreed at IMO MEPC 71.
