Ballast Water and IMO convention- 8 Sept 2017

The IMO convention on Ballast Water Management has entered into force on 8th Sept 2017. This was one of the conventions global maritime industry was waiting. There had been mixed reactions from the industry. What could be financial implications of their operations? What are the additional burdens that will come heavily on them? How do they cross this new situation smoothly?

Here is a quick look into the history and IMO work on the Ballast Water Management.

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, which when transported to other global areas could create an imbalance to the ecological life.

After the 2017 – IMO- MEPC June 3 – 7. Session 71st BW Management Convention – a revised Implementation Scheme is announced and the result was the conventions' entry into force on 8 Sept 2017. This paved a new structure for carriage of ballast water, discharge of ballast water into various regions of the big blue sea and requirements for ship operators for satisfying the convention.

Now that the convention has entered into force, it is in the hands of industry players, to ensure steps are taken to satisfy the convention.

I have posted a more detailed paper in www.academia.edu < https://wmu.academia.edu/JkmNair >