TT Club highlighted the importance of ballast water management as the practice used for the safe operation of ships can pose a significant risk to indigenous marine life.
The Club notes that ballast water needed for the safe operation of ships can pose a significant risk to indigenous marine life through the unintentional transportation of marine life around the globe.
Through shipping routes the transportation of marine life results in the bio-invasion of non-indigenous marine organisms with possible dire consequences for the local marine life.
Importance of ballast water management
Ecological impact
Ballast water which is taken on board by ships to ensure safe operation and maintain stability will often contain a wide variety of microbes, bacteria, small invertebrates and other marine organisms.
As ballast water is discharged at different ports around the globe, relocated marine organisms may establish themselves in the new location and disrupt the existing marine ecosystem. They become an invasive species, displacing the native species resulting in loss of biodiversity.
Economic impact
Invasive species transported within ballast water which establish themselves and disrupt the existing marine ecosystems can result in significant consequences for the local economy, in particular the local commercial and leisure fishing industry.
By competing with native marine species, these invasive marine organisms put additional drain on food sources and habitat that can result in declining fish stocks and other marine life, impacting on the local economy.
In addition, invasive species produce a detrimental effect to marine infrastructure by destabilising embankments and obstructing water intakes/outlet pipes.
Health impact
Marine organisms transported in ballast water also have the potential to impact human health, both directly and indirectly, through the spread of harmful algae blooms and pathogens resulting in harm to humans through direct contact or potential contamination of drinking water supplies.
To remind, during the SAFETY4SEA Hamburg Forum 2024, Mark Riggio, Technical Director, BEMA, highlighted the critical importance of Ballast Water Treatment (BWT). He emphasized that while ballast water is indispensable for ensuring ship stability and safety, its proper treatment is crucial in preventing the spread of invasive aquatic species.
