Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Module I
INTRODUCTION TO BWM AND THE CONVENTION
Explore
Welcome
Welcome to this elearning course which will tell you all you need to know
about effective Ballast Water Management (BWM) and give you the chance
to practice what you have learned in some realistic challenges.
This first short module introduces the issues around ballast water as a
means for the transfer of Harmful Aquatic Organisms and Pathogens
(HAOP) around the globe. It also introduces the international response to
dealing with this issue. In particular, it looks at the basic structure and
content of the BWM Convention and what it means for anyone involved in
the maritime transport sector.
Why is BWM important?
All ships need ballast to operate safely and efficiently. They have been using
water as ballast ever since the move from wooden to metal ships. Sea water
is easy to move, load and unload and there is a ready supply.
However, there is an unseen danger involved in taking water drawn from one
port and discharging it at another the potential transfer of harmful aquatic
organisms from one location to another.
Why is BWM important?
So, the current world fleet operates with ballast water that needs to be adequately
managed in order to avoid the transfer of harmful species.
BBC Worldwide/IMO Production, Invaders from the Sea. Extracted from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5JkRtMTEdI.
As you have seen, ballast is essential for the effective operation of many
ships.
When ships were first built years ago, they carried solid ballast, in the form of
rocks, sand or metal. However, since around 1880, ships have used water as
ballast principally because it is more readily available, much easier to load on
and off a ship, and is, therefore, more efficient and economical than solid
ballast.
The role of ballast water
While ballast water is crucial to the safe operation of ships, studies have
shown that when ballast water is taken on board, the organisms living in that
water are also drawn in to the ballast tanks. Depending on the duration of
the voyage and other factors, many of these organisms are then able to
survive the journey and are subsequently released live into the waters of the
destination port when the ballast water is discharged.
The role of ballast water
Thus, ballast water serves as a vector for the transfer of species from
one part of the world to another via the pathway of international shipping.
Where this new area is outside of its natural geographic range, the
species which has been transferred is commonly known as an alien
species (alternative terms are nonnative or nonindigenous).
The role of ballast water
This clip shows the impact of one invasive freshwater species the golden
mussel and the effect it can have on biodiversity and livelihoods.
BBC Worldwide/IMO Production, Invaders from the Sea. Extracted from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5JkRtMTEdI.
water) are transported around the world every year. This amount of
water means the likelihood of marine species being transported around the
life.
INTRODUCTION TO BWM AND THE CONVENTION
The International Response
The IMO
At the forefront of the international initiatives is the International Maritime Organization
(IMO), the specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for the international
regulation of ships' safety and security as well as for the prevention of marine pollution
from ships.
IMO has been working through its Member States to tackle the problem of ballast water
since 1973 when, at the conference to adopt MARPOL the ballast water problem was
raised. The conference adopted a Resolution which noted that "ballast water taken in
waters which may contain bacteria of epidemic diseases, may, when discharged, cause
The entry into force for the BWM Convention were met on 8 September
2016 and consequently the Convention will enter into force on 8
September 2017.
Regulatory Work
The IMO then established a Ballast Water Working Group under the Marine
version: the 'Guidelines for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water to Minimize the Transfer of
Video
BBC Worldwide/IMO Production, Invaders from the Sea. Extracted from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5JkRtMTEdI.
The structure of the BWM Convention
The BWM Convention was adopted in February 2004. Since then, a set of
guidelines has been adopted for its uniform implementation.
The entry into force for the BWM Convention were met on 8 September 2016
and consequently the Convention will enter into force on 8 September 2017.