Policy and Legal Framework and the Current Status of Ballast Water Management Requirements - Global Maritime Transport and Ballast Water Management: Issues and Solutions - page 79

(a) undertake BWE before entering the Mediterranean Sea area, or after leaving the
Mediterranean Sea area, as applicable, according to the standard set out in the
D-1 standard of the BWM Convention, and at least 200 NM from the nearest
land and in waters at least 200 m in depth;
(b) in situations where this is not possible, either due to deviating the ship from
its intended voyage or delaying the ship, or for safety reasons, BWE should
be undertaken before entering the Mediterranean Sea area, or after leaving
the Mediterranean Sea area, as applicable, according to the standard set out
in the D-1 standard of the BWM Convention, as far from the nearest land as
possible, and in all cases in waters at least 50 NM from the nearest land and
in waters of at least 200 m depth.
From the 1st of October 2012, vessels leaving the Mediterranean Sea and sailing
to destinations in North-East Atlantic or the Baltic Sea, and the vessels sailing from
these areas to the Mediterranean Sea, should conduct BWE in the North-East
Atlantic area and at least 200 NM from the nearest land and in waters at least 200 m
in depth. If this is not possible for operational reasons, then BWE should be con-
ducted as far as possible from the nearest land, and in all cases in waters at least
50 NM from the nearest land and in waters of at least 200 m depth (IMO 2012 ).
The Exceptions from BWM requirements under the Regulations A-3 may apply
and the Exemptions from BWM requirements under the regulation A-4 may be
granted. BWE should not in any way jeopardise vessels safety. Vessels should have
onboard a Ballast Water Management Plan and keep record of all ballast operations
(IMO 2011 , 2012 ).
In the Adriatic Sea sub-region, the initiative on establishing common BWM
measures is being carried through the Commission for the Protection of the Adriatic
(members Croatia, Italy, Montenegro and Slovenia, and observers Bosnia and
Hercegovina and Albania). In 2003, the Ballast Water Management Task Force was
established to cope with the ballast water issue at the Adriatic level, which in 2004
developed into a more formal Ballast Water Management Sub-Commission
(BWMSC). BWMSC is the formal body for BWM issues in the Adriatic, wherein
experts and government representatives work on plans and proposal developments.
There are also other regional frameworks for ballast water policies (e.g., Adriatic-
Ionian Initiative, Adriatic Partnership) (David and Gollasch 2008 ).
In November 2013 the strategic project Ballast Water Management System for
Adriatic Sea Protection (BALMAS) started. The overall BALMAS objective is to
establish a common cross-border system linking all Adriatic research, experts and
national responsible authorities to avoid the unwanted risks to the environment and
humans from the transfer of HAOP, through the control and management of ships'
ballast waters and sediments. Further, developments will be encouraged in related
knowledge and technology at cross-border level for a long-term effective BWM in
the Adriatic according to the BWM Convention, Europe wide developments and
local specifi cs. BALMAS partners are research institutions and government bodies/
ministries from all Adriatic countries (Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and
Hercegovina, Montenegro and Albania). The BALMAS project will end in March
2016 (Matej David personal communication).