Risk Assessment in Ballast Water Management - Global Maritime Transport and Ballast Water Management: Issues and Solutions - page 147

Application of Risk Assessment Under
the Ballast Water Management Convention
There are two fundamentally different RA approaches under the BWM Convention,
the selective and the blanket approach. The selective approach means that appropri-
ate BWM measures are required depending on different risk levels posed by the
intended ballast water discharge. This is further also depending on the BWM feasi-
bility under certain circumstances. In one instance ships may be exempted from
BWM requirements provided that the risk level of a ballast water discharge is
acceptable based on the G7 Guidelines. In another instance, if the risk is identifi ed
as (very) high, ships may be required to take additional measures based on Guidelines
for Additional Measures Regarding Ballast Water Management Including Emergency
Situations (G13 Guidelines). The level of risk is a result of a RA. A blanket approach
means that all ships intending to discharge ballast water in a port are required by the
port State to conduct BWM.
Risk Assessment for Granting Exemptions
from Ballast Water Management Requirements
Exemptions from BWM requirements may be given when a RA, prepared according
to the G7 Guidelines, results in an acceptable low risk. This is specifi c for a ship, or
different ships, sailing only between specifi ed ports or locations. The exemptions
may be granted for up to 5 years, but may also be withdrawn when the risk situation
becomes unacceptable during this period (IMO 2007 ; David and Gollasch 2010 ).
The RA developed under the BWM Convention is the newest and the only globally
agreed RA framework for BWM purposes. This RA presented here was developed
to enable a selective BWM approach (David 2007 ).
The need for a commonly agreed RA approach/model is outlined in section 6.5
Evaluation and decision-making of the G7 Guidelines. Paragraph 6.5.1 requires that
port States considering to grant exemptions shall for both the evaluation and consul-
tation processes especially consider Regulation A-4.3 which states that any exemp-
tion shall not negatively impact upon the environment, human health, property or
resources of adjacent or other states. Any state potentially or adversely affected
shall be consulted.
Furthermore, as stated in paragraph 7.4 of the procedures for granting exemp-
tions, a RA model needs to be prepared, which is to be made available to exemp-
tions applicants. It is also stipulated that if any Party (i.e., a country signatory to the
BWM Convention) has decided that the shipowner or operator who applies for the
exemption should conduct a RA, this Party should provide to that shipowner or
operator all relevant information, including application requirements, the RA model
to be used, the target species that should be considered and the required data reporting
and collection standards. In turn, the shipowner or operator should make available