Ballast Water Management Decision Support System Model Application - Global Maritime Transport and Ballast Water Management: Issues and Solutions - page 261

Fig. 3 Main direct Sea transport connections of the Port of Koper with other continents (Source:
Luka Koper/Hal Interactive, http://www.luka-kp.si/eng/interactive-map , last accessed January 2014)
Ballast water discharges in the Port of Koper were studied using ballast water
reporting forms and the ballast water discharge assessment model presented in the
chapter “ Vessels and Ballast Water ” . Results have shown that discharged ballast
water in the Port of Koper originates almost exclusively from inside the Mediterranean
region. For the purpose of BWM considerations the ballast water uptake ports or
areas were divided in four zones: zone 1 = North Adriatic; zone 2 = South Adriatic;
zone 3 = Mediterranean Sea (Adriatic Sea excluded); and zone 4 = Outside the
Mediterranean Sea. Ballast water originating from ports in zone 1 represents about
70 %, from the zone 2 and 3 about 15 % each, and ballast water originating from
outside the Mediterranean is less than 1 % (David 2007 ).
In combination with the general shipping pattern Mediterranean Sea hub-ports
become most exposed (at risk) for the transfer of harmful aquatic organisms
including non-indigenous species between continents, i.e., primary introduction of
species. Shipping inside the region facilitates the further transfer of those species
that are introduced into the hub-ports resulting in secondary transfer of species
(David et al. 2007a , b ).
Ballast Water Management Options for the Port of Koper
Ballast Water Exchange
Ballast water exchange (BWE) has been used since the 1980s to reduce the risks of
coastal organisms being transferred and discharged. Though BWE is considered to
be of a limited effi cacy, the BWM Convention includes BWE as a BWM option