Ballast Water Management Convention So Close...

Indonesia signed the IMO Ballast Water Management Convention on November 24, one day after Morocco also signed. Finland is expected to sign this week too, and it is unclear yet whether Finland’s ratification will be needed to meet the convention’s tonnage requirements or whether Indonesia’s is sufficient. 

The convention will come into force 12 months after the date on which 30 IMO member states, representing 35 percent of the world’s tonnage, ratify it.

“The figures are very close, formal verification process will conclude as soon as possible. Announcement ASAP,” the IMO told The Marine Professional. 

Morocco’s ratification on November 23 brought the count to 32.93 percent of world tonnage. 

Industry opinion is divided on whether Indonesia, the 46th state to ratify, has sufficient tonnage, but if Finland ratifies this week, it is most likely that the convention will finally enter into force.

The IMO developed and adopted 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 three billion tons to five billion tons of ballast water globally each year. The convention will apply to all ships and offshore structures that carry ballast water and are engaged in international voyages.

Indonesia’s accession comes after capacity-building projects undertaken by IMO in collaboration with the Norwegian Development Cooperation Agency (Norad) and with the support of the Globallast project. Indonesia’s Minister of Transportation, H.E. Ignasius Jonan, deposited the instrument of acceptance during the 29th session of the IMO Assembly.