Ballast water management a crucial issue

摘要

Entry into force of the International Maritime Organisation's Ballast Water Convention is moving closer. This summer Germany became the 37th flag state to ratify the convention. However, there is still some way to go until the maritime industry is obliged to face up to the new obligations, 12 months after ratification. While the number of countries required to ensure the introduction of the convention passed the stipulated level of 30 some two years ago, the requirement that 35% of the world's tonnage must be represented through those states remains a stumbling block. Germany's action took total tonnage to 30.32%, a shortfall of 4.68%.