IMO Ballast Water Convention entering into force on 8 September 2017

Overview

BIMCO is “deeply concerned” that shipowners will be without treatment systems approved for global use.
BIMCO is “deeply concerned” that the IMO Ballast Water Convention will enter into force leaving shipowners without treatment systems approved for global use.

Lars Robert Pedersen, Deputy Secretary General at BIMCO said today:

“The shipping industry need no longer speculate on a possible future date for the IMO Ballast Water Convention. It will come into force on 8 September 2017, requiring ships to be fitted with approved treatment systems to prevent the spread of invasive species via ballast water.”

“BIMCO is deeply concerned about the prospect of our members having to install treatment systems now which later may not be approved for use in US waters. This is because the US has not yet approved treatment systems that comply to its own, more stringent, national standards.”

“Shipping will have to invest significantly in the installation of ballast water treatment systems by next September – only to find the investment is wasted if their system does not meet US standards.”

“BIMCO is also concerned that systems approved to the present IMO standards are not robust enough to ensure that systems onboard real ships perform to the regulatory requirements to treat ballast water. “

“We therefore call upon IMO to expedite the revision of their G8 guidelines for approval of ballast water treatment systems.”

ENDS

BIMCO members with queries about the Ballast Water Convention, please contact marine@bimco.org.

For media queries, please contact Gemma Wilkie, Communications Director at BIMCO on:

(Direct) +45 4436 6836, (Mobile) +45 2442 9781 or pr@bimco.org.

Notes to Editors

  • BIMCO is the world’s largest international shipping association, with 2,200 members in around 130 countries.
  • We provide a wide range of services to our global membership – which includes shipowners, operators, managers, brokers and agents. 
  • BIMCO’s core objective is to facilitate the commercial operations of our members by developing standard contracts and clauses, and providing quality information, advice and education. 
  • BIMCO promotes fair business practices, free trade and open access to markets and we are a strong advocate for the harmonisation and standardisation of all shipping related activity.
  • BIMCO actively promotes the application of globally agreed regulatory instruments – we are accredited as a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) with all relevant United Nations agencies and other regulatory entities.

Gemma Wilkie
By Gemma Wilkie
in Copenhagen, DK

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