IMO Adopts New Ballast Water Rules
shipping and the prevention of marine pollution from ships. international conference held from 9 to13 February 2004 at IMO's London Headquarters. The Convention will require all ships to implement a Ballast Water and Sediments Management Plan. water management procedures to a given standard. but after a phase-in period. criteria set out in the Convention and to IMO guidelines yet to be developed. IMO Secretary-General Mr. Efthimios E. successful outcome of the conference. harmful aquatic organisms and pathogens across the seas and oceans of the world. ballast water and thus towards safeguarding the biodiversity of the oceans", Mr. Mitropoulos said. given the consensus decisions you were able to make on a subject of undeniable complexity.
Government Update: Ballast Water Management Acquiring Teeth
Effective August 13, 2004, the U.S. Coast Guard will have the authority to impose civil penalties of up to $27,500 per day against vessels that fail to submit ballast water management reports. The basic ballast water management program has been in existence for some years, but submittal of reports has been largely voluntary since the agency lacked the power to require submittal. As a result, participation in the program has been abysmal - at less than 30 percent. It is expected that participation will rapidly become universal as the penalty regime takes hold. The goal of ballast water management is to reduce the risk of transport in a ship's ballast tanks of aquatic species from one location to another where the species is not indigenous and may have no natural enemies.
