Classification society ABS has recently voiced concerns over areas of uncertainty that underlie the implementation of the Convention.
ABS has highlighted the fact that uncertainty lies in the date at which the conditions for entry into force is fulfilled. As the Ballast water Management Convention states that entry into force will occur 12 months after not less than 30 States and 35% world tonnage have ratified the Convention. However, the uncertainty lies around whether Indonesia’s latest ratification on 24 November 2015 will be used as the date that conditions were fulfilled due to the investigation of the above values and world tonnage.
They also harbour concerns around compliance with the D2 biological standard as resolution A.1088(28) and whether this needs to be amended to facilitate the industry’s efforts to ensure compliance.
These concerns have been thrown out into the industry in the midst of recent ratifications of the Ballast Water Management (BWM) Convention during the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) 29th Assembly, November 2015.
The flurry of ratifications left the world tonnage that has ratified the Convention standing at 34.07%, but this is according to 2014 figures.
As the percentage needed for entry into force is so small at 0.93%, the IMO has requested that IHS Fairplay confirms the tonnages of the world fleet to see if the 35% has in fact been achieved according to newer data.
This means that the review may trigger the Convention’s entry into force. If not the fact that the entry into force of this hugely impactful Convention remains tantalisingly close.
Recently Published Ballast Water Convention Articles:
December Verdict For Ballast Water Convention Says IMO
ICS: IMO Ballast Water Convention Implementation Won’t Fix “Extreme Difficulties” in the U.S.
Indonesia & Morocco Ratify Ballast Water Management Convention
