Ballast water Is Pumped In To Maintain Safe Operating Conditions Throughout A Voyage. This Practice Reduces Stress On The Hull, Provides Transverse Stability, Improves Propulsion And Manoeuvrability, And Compensates For Weight Changes In Various Cargo Load Levels And Due To Fuel And Water Consumption.
How Ballast Water Management Came In Focous?
Ballast Water Taken Onboard By Ships Contain Thousands Of Aquatic Or Marine Microbes, Plants And Animals,small Invertebrates, Eggs, Cysts And Larvae Of Various Species,, Which Are Then Carried Across The Globe. Untreated Ballast Water Released At The Ship’s Destination Could Potentially Introduce A New Invasive Marine Species. Hundreds Of Such Invasions Have Already Taken Place, Sometimes With Devastating Consequences For The Local Ecosystem.Countries Like Canada And Australia Were Among Countries Experiencing Particular Problems With Invasive Species, And They Brought Their Concerns To The Attention Of IMO's Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC).
Why BWM Is Important?
The Spread Of Invasive Species Is Now Recognized As One Of The Greatest Threats To The Ecological And The Economic Well Being Of The Planet. These Species Are Causing Enormous Damage To Biodiversity And The Valuable Natural Riches Of The Earth Upon Which We Depend. Direct And Indirect Health Effects Are Becoming Increasingly Serious And The Damage To The Environment.
What Is Required On The Ship By This Convention?
The Ballast Water Management Convention Will Require All Ships In International Trade To Manage Their Ballast Water And Sediments To Certain Standards, According To A Ship-specific Ballast Water Management Plan. All Ships Will Also Have To Carry A Ballast Water Record Book And An International Ballast Water Management Certificate. The Ballast Water Performance Standard Will Be Phased In Over A Period Of Time. Most Ships Will Need To Install An On-board System To Treat Ballast Water And Eliminate Unwanted Organisms.
When International Convention For BWM Will Come In Fore?
The International Convention For The Control And Management Of Ships' Ballast Water And Sediments (BWM Convention) Will Enter Into Force On 8 September 2017
Under The Convention’s Terms, Ships Will Be Required To Manage Their Ballast Water To Remove, Render Harmless, Or Avoid The Uptake Or Discharge Of Aquatic Organisms And Pathogens Within Ballast Water And Sediments.