In its paper INTERTANKO outlines four challenges
Following consideration of the current state of ballast water treatment and the implementation of the International Convention by INTERTANKO’s Council, ISTEC and Environmental Committee a submission has been made to the IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) outlining four key challenges relating to ballast water management. The submission has been made jointly with Liberia, the Marshall Islands, Panama, BIMCO, CLIA, Intercargo, InterManager, IPTA, NACE and WSC.
In its paper, INTERTANKO outlines the four challenges affecting ratification and effective implementation of the BWM Convention as:
- need for revision of the Guidelines for approval of ballast water management systems (G8) to improve transparency and ensure appropriate robustness of ballast water management systems (BWMS);
- availability of BWMS and sufficient facilities to install BWMS;
- survey and certification requirements for ships constructed prior to entry into force of the BWM Convention; and,
- sampling and analysis procedures for port State control purposes.
In terms of the type approval guidelines, the paper comments that these guidelines are intended to screen out BWMS that would fail to meet the IMO Convention discharge standards. Approval, however, does not ensure that a given system will work in compliance with the discharge standard once installed on board and operated in the actual maritime environment. The proposals in the paper provide are seen as a first step in assessing BWMS in a more credible and effective manner.
On the potential problems faced with installation capacity, the paper proposes that a draft Assembly resolution should be developed with new BWMS installation dates which take into account the capacity of the ship building and repair industry.
The paper also notes and proposes a solution to the possible problem associated with surveying and certifying existing ships, supporting the issuance of Ballast Water Management Certificates prior to entry into force of the BWM Convention.
Finally, the paper also suggests a greater link between the port state control sampling guidelines and the type approval process, noting that at present there appears to be a disconnect between the type approval process and the process of sampling and testing of BWMS by port state control.
To view the document in full, click here.
Source: Intertanko