Three more states ratify Ballast Water Management treaty
TINNews |
IMO announced that three more States have become Party to Ballast Water Management Convention, designed to counter the threat to marine ecosystems by potentially invasive species transported in ships’ ballast water.
The Bahamas deposited its instrument of accession on 8 June, following accession by Singapore at the same day, and accession by United Arab Emirates, on 6 June. Australia also ratified the treaty on 7 June.
So far, the latest country to have ratified the Convention was Saudi Arabia, in April. The additions bring the number of States party to the BWM Convention to 59, representing 65.18 % of the world’s merchant fleet tonnage.
The Convention enters into force on 8 September 2017 and will require ships to manage their ballast water, which can contain thousands of aquatic or marine microbes, plants and organisms, which are then carried across the globe.