• WHEN WILL BE THE BALLAST WATER CONVENTION RATIFIED BY THE INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANIZATION?

    According to industry sources, 2012 will be the year that the Ballast Water Convention (BWM) will see ratication by IMO. Today, the total number of contracting Parties to the BWM Convention has reached 36, representing 29.07% of the world tonnage after ratification by Denmark (35% will be needed for the Convention to enter into force). In september 12th, IMO Secretary General – Koji Sekimizu urged a decisive action on ballast water. Eight years has passed since the Convention´s adoption.

     

    Why is the BWC so important?

     

    While ballast water is essential for safe and efficient modern shipping operations, it may pose serious ecological, economic and health problems due to the multitude of marine species carried in ships’ ballast water. These include bacteria, microbes, small invertebrates, eggs, cysts and larvae of various species. The transferred species may survive to establish a reproductive population in the host environment, becoming invasive, out-competing native species and multiplying into pest proportions.

     

    This video filmed by Smithsonian Institution explains how scientists are trying to prevent invasive species from hitching a ride to new ecosystems aboard.

     

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