Ballast Water Management Convention
International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments | |
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Signed | 13 February 2004 |
Location | London, United Kingdom |
Effective | 8 September 2017 |
Condition | Ratifications by at least 30 parties, whose combined merchant fleets' gross tonnage includes at least 35% of the world's |
Parties | 86 (15 July 2021)[1] |
Depositary | UN Secretary-General |
Languages | Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish |
Admiralty law |
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History |
Features |
Contract of carriage/Charterparty |
Parties |
Judiciaries |
International conventions |
International organizations |
The International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments (Ballast Water Management Convention or BWM Convention) is a 2004 international
Development and entry into force
The first scientifically recognised occurrence of a non-indigenous marine species being transported in ships water occurred in the North Sea in 1903, with the Asian phytoplankton Odontella appearing. The issue became more prevalent with the increase in shipping in the late 20th century and the issue was raised for the first time at the IMO in 1988.[5] Following several years of development, the Convention was adopted by the International Maritime Organization in 2004.[2] To enter into force, the Convention required ratification by a minimum of 30 States, representing 35% of world merchant shipping tonnage, subject to which it would enter into force 12 months later.[6] On 8 September 2016, Finland acceded to the Convention, bringing the contracting states to 52 and the combined tonnage of States to 35.14%.[6] This triggered the applicability of the entry into force date of the Convention, which occurred on 8 September 2017.[6][7][8] Since Finland's accession, a number of States have continued to ratify the treaty. By November 2018 there were 78 contracting States, representing 77.19 per cent of world merchant shipping tonnage.[9] By September 2020, 79 countries had joined the Convention.[10]
Requirements of the Convention
All international sea going
Ships that comply with the Convention will receive and are duly required to carry an international ballast water management certificate.[14] To receive a certificate, a ship will have to supply the necessary documentation showing compliance with the Convention and a survey will be carried out on-board.[15] A survey may be carried out by a flag State, or by a Classification Society who have been authorised by a flag State.[16] The convention is monitored by Port State Control, who must assess the ballast water management plan and its operation on the ship.[17]
Standards
Under the Convention, ships are required, according to a timetable of implementation, to comply with the D1 or D2 standards.[14]
The D1 standard requires ships to carry out a ballast water exchange, and specifies the volume of water that must be replaced.
New ships will be required to install and comply with the D2 standard from the 8th September 2017, once the Convention has entered into force.[20] Existing ships, who are subject to the phased implementation schedule, have potentially (depending on the renewal of their ship certificates) until the 8th September 2024, by which time all ships will comply with the D2 standard.[20]
It is also possible for ships to discharge ballast at approved shore reception facilities in
Some ships may be exempted from complying with the Convention, according to certain conditions and the appropriate permission being given by a flag State.
Bibliography
- N. Anwar & Dr. L. Churcher, Ballast Water Management: Understanding the regulations and the treatment technologies available, 7th Edition, Witherby Publishing Group, 2016.
References
- ^ a b "Status of Conventions". IMO. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
- ^ a b c d "BWM Convention". International Maritime Organization. Archived from the original on July 2, 2017. Retrieved July 7, 2017.
- ^ "BWM Convention: counting the cost". Ballast Water Treatment Technology. Archived from the original on July 16, 2017. Retrieved July 7, 2017.
- ^ Anwar & Churcher, p.175
- ^ Anwar & Churcher, p.2
- ^ a b c "BWM Convention to enter into force in 2017". Maritime Executive. Retrieved July 7, 2017.
- ^ a b "Ballast water management - the control of harmful invasive species". International Maritime Organization. Archived from the original on February 17, 2019. Retrieved July 7, 2017.
- ^ "IMO's BWM Convention to Enter Into Force in September 2017". World Maritime News. 8 September 2016. Retrieved July 7, 2017.
- ^ "Status of Treaties" (PDF). International Maritime Organization. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 12, 2017. Retrieved July 7, 2017.
- ^ "Status of ratifications of the Ballast Water Management Convention" (PDF). United Nations Treaty Collection. United Nations. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
- ^ Anwar & Churcher, p.123 - 124
- ^ "Ballast Water Record Book" (3rd ed.). Witherby Publishing Group. Archived from the original on 2017-10-19. Retrieved July 7, 2017.
- ISBN 9781914992193.
- ^ Lloyd’s Register. Archived from the original(PDF) on 2017-07-12. Retrieved July 7, 2017.
- ^ DNV GL. Retrieved July 7, 2017.
- ^ Anwar & Churcher, p.128
- ^ Anwar & Churcher, p.141
- ^ P&I club. 13 April 2017. Retrieved July 7, 2017.
- .
- ^ a b "MEPC 71 Brief: Ballast Water Management Implementation Scheme Agreed in Principle". Hellenic Shipping News. Archived from the original on July 9, 2017. Retrieved July 7, 2017.
- ^ Anwar & Churcher, p.167