International Maritime Organisation seeks nod for ballast water accord

The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) is seeking ratifications from countries for ships' ballast water convention to come into force.

Biological invasion or translocation of foreign organism from ships' ballast water discharges has been identifed as one of the four greatest threats to the world's oceans.

Ballast water is carried in empty ships to provide stability. The water is taken on board and tiny stowaways, in the form of marine organisms, are taken on board with it.

Ballast water threat to the oceans intensifies lately due the increase in maritime traffic.

When cargo is loaded, the ballast water, with its surviving stowaway organisms, is drained out of the vessel into their new surroundings.

Maritime Institute of Malaysia researcher Cheryl Rita Kaur said IMO was currently working on the ratification for the Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments 2004.

"The convention will eventually come into force when adequate number of countries ratify it," she said.

To be implemented, the convention will need ratifications from 30 countries representing 35% of the world's merchant shipping tonnage.

To read the full article, click here...
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.eshippingtoday.com