Ballast Water Management Under the Ballast Water Management Convention - Global Maritime Transport and Ballast Water Management: Issues and Solutions - page 88

Ballast Water Management Under the Ballast
Water Management Convention

Matej David , Stephan Gollasch , Brian Elliott , and Chris Wiley

Abstract The importance of ballast water as a vector for moving non-indigenous
species was initially addressed in a 1973 International Maritime Organization
(IMO) resolution. Subsequently IMO worked towards the fi nalization of the
International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water
and Sediments (BWM Convention) which was adopted in February 2004 at a diplo-
matic conference in London. The BWM Convention's main aim is to prevent, mini-
mize and ultimately eliminate the risks to the environment, human health, property
and resources which arise from the transfer of harmful aquatic organisms and patho-
gens via ships' ballast waters and related sediments. It should be noted that harmful
aquatic organisms in this context are not limited to non-indigenous species, but
covers all aquatic species irrespective of their origin. As defi ned at IMO “Ballast
Water Management means mechanical, physical, chemical, and biological pro-
cesses, either singularly or in combination, to remove, render harmless, or avoid the
uptake or discharge of Harmful Aquatic Organisms and Pathogens within Ballast
Water and Sediments.” The BWM Convention and its supporting guidelines are
described in this chapter, outlining the ballast water exchange and performance
standards, warnings concerning ballast water uptake in certain areas, ballast water
reception facilities, sediment management as well as exemptions and exceptions
from ballast water management requirements. This chapter ends with the descrip-
tion of implementation options of the BWM Convention.