BALLAST WATER MANAGEMENT - ACCUMULATED EXPERIENCE ON EXCHANGE METHODS

摘要

On February 13, 2004, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) adopted a new convention called the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments. This is a stand-alone convention and is not part of any other IMO convention. The convention will enter into force 12 months after 30 countries, with not less than 35% of the world's tonnage, have ratified it. The convention does not include specific assessment criteria for the approval of ballast water management plans. Lloyd's Register has filled this legislature gap and has gone beyond the present legal framework by having developed the ShipRight Procedure for the Assessment of Ballast Water Management Plans with a view to assist shipping companies to understand the risks and protect their assets (ships and crew), businesses and the asset of all the environment. This procedure has been applied for new ships under construction as well as ships in service. The procedure has become a useful industry standard and, therefore, experience has been accumulated on a common platform for all ship operators. This paper describes the relevant issues in some detail and unfolds the so far accumulated experience from the perspective of shipping companies.