Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
“plankton: organisms passively drifting or only modestly swimming in the
water;
nekton: free-swimming species in the water;
fouling: attached organisms (including bacterial films) on the vertical walls and
horizontal structures of the ballast compartments; and
benthos: bottom-dwelling, or benthic, organisms, such as mud beds of marine
worms and associated species, and the encysted, or resting, stages of plant
plankton (phytoplankton) and animal plankton (zooplankton).”
5
This problem is not new. A biological study conducted in 1903 showed the
presence of the Asian phytoplankton species
Odontella (Biddulphia) sinuises
in the
North Sea.
6
A number of studies have since showed the severe threats this problem
poses to the marine environment.
7
Invasive marine species have been identified as
one of the main threats to the marine environment. Ship ballast water is a major
contributor in this regard. The introduction of invasive aquatic species into new
areas by vessels
hulls and via other vectors has been
identified as one of the four greatest threats to the world
ballast water attached to ships
'
'
s oceans.
8
As mentioned earlier, a study conducted as early as 1903 highlighted this
problem. However, the scientific community
'
s serious attention to this issue started
in 1970s. It was first brought to the attention of IMO in the 1980s by Canada and
Australia, who were facing serious problems with invasive species.
9
Ballast water is not the only means by which aquatic invasive species are
transferred. A number of studies have shown bio-fouling on ships is an important
means of transferring invasive aquatic species which, if established in new ecosys-
tems, may pose threats to the environment, human health, property and resources.
10
Biofouling is the attachment of marine organisms to any part of a vessel
'
s hull,
internal seawater systems, equipment and equipment spaces.
11
Biofouling organ-
isms may accumulate in various areas of a vessel: hulls, rudders, propellers,
propeller shafts, other hull appendages mooring devices, anchor wells, cable
lockers, cargo spaces, bilges, sea chests and pipe work.
12
'
5
Ibid.
6
Gollasch et al. (
2007
).
7
Bax et al. (
2003
), Carlton (
1985
), Carlton (
1987
), Williams et al. (
1988
), Hallegraeff and Bolch
(
1991
), David and Perkovi
ˇ
(
2004
), and Hayes and Sliwa (
2003
).
8
The GEF/UNDP/IMO Global Ballast Water Management Programme (GloBallast),
http://
9
IMO,
Ballast
Water
Management,
2011 Guidelines for the Control and Management of Ships
'
Biofouling to Minimize the Transfer
of Invasive Aquatic Species, Resolution MEPC.207(62), IMO Doc. MEPC 62/24/Add.1 Annex
26 (26 July 2011) (hereinafter 2011 IMO Biofouling Guidelines).
11
Commonwealth of Australia,
National Biofouling Management Guidelines for Commercial
Vessels
(2009).
12
Ibid.
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