Ballast Water Management Convention

The IMO developed and adopted “The International Convention for The Control and Management of Ships Ballast Water Ballast Water and Sediments, 2004” (Ballast Water Management Convention) with the aim of protecting the marine environment from the transfer of harmful aquatic organisms in ballast water carried by ships.

According to IMO estimates, ships carry some 3 billion tons to 5 billion tons of ballast water globally each year.

The convention will come into effect 12 months after 30 countries representing a combined total gross tonnage of more than 35% of the world’s merchant fleet have ratified it. Currently 44 countries representing a combined tonnage of 32.86% of the world’s merchant fleet have ratified the convention as of 24 March 2015.

On the 28th session of the IMO Assembly (A28) which was held from 25 November to 4 December 2013, as a result of the discussion at A28 about relaxation of installation schedule for ballast water performance standard, the revised schedule approved at the 65th session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC65) was adopted as Assembly resolution.
Upon the enforcement of the convention, the resolution will be applied and the Ballast water performance standard is required in accordance with the resolution.
The relevant resolution  can be found in the following link ;

• IMO Resolution A.1088(28)
• GUIDELINES AND GUIDANCE DOCUMENTS RELATED TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION FOR THE CONTROL AND MANAGEMENT OF SHIPS’ BALLAST WATER AND SEDIMENTS, 2004.