Finland has triggered the landmark entry into force of the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments (BWM Convention).
The BWM Convention was adopted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in 2004. Now, some 12 years later, the industry finally has a date to mark in the diary for its entry into force: September 8, 2017.
The Permanent Representative of Finland to IMO handed over the country’s instrument of acceptance to the Ballast Water Management Convention to IMO Secretary-General Lim on September 8, 2016.
Following Finland’s accession to the Convention IMO secretary-general Kitack Lim said the signing was a “truly significant milestone for the health of our planet”.
The combined tonnage of contracting states to the treaty now stands at 35.1441 percent, with 52 contracting parties. The Convention stipulates that it will enter into force 12 months after ratification by a minimum of 30 States, representing 35 percent of world merchant shipping tonnage.
Under the terms of the BWM Convention ships will be required to manage their ballast water to remove, render harmless, or avoid the uptake or discharge of aquatic organisms and pathogens within ballast water and sediments. This means that most ships will need have ballast water treatment technology installed on board in order to ensure compliance to certain standards, according to a ship-specific ballast water management plan.
The Convention will also require all ships in international trade to carry a ballast water record book and an International Ballast Water Management Certificate.
In the wake of Finlands accession the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) reiterated that it is now more vital than ever that IMO Member States finalise the revision of the G8 Type Approval Guidelines for treatment systems at the next session of the IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee this October.
ICS Chairman, Esben Poulsson said: “We must ensure that shipowners can have absolute confidence that the expensive equipment they will soon have to install will be effective in treating ballast water conditions normally encountered during worldwide operations and be regarded as fully compliant during Port State Control inspections.
Poulsson also added: “Unfortunately, the entry into force of the new IMO regime will not resolve the extreme difficulties that still exist in the United States.”
ICS have therefore stated that they will be working with IMO Member States to impress upon the United States the importance of coming to a pragmatic solution.
Meanwhile INTERTANKO welcomed the entry into force of an international Convention providing global requirements but is advising its Members to take a cautious approach in coming months and to remain focussed.
This news of Finland being the Member State to cross the finish line with the accession documents that have concreted the Convention’s entry into force will come as sweet relief for the ballast water treatment system manufacturers.
The battle to remain buoyant in the market amongst much competition and an extended waiting period for the opening of the hypothetical flood gates must be the finest news as hopefully the flood will wash the long-awaited equipment orders to their doors.
