IMO praises ICS reversal of two-year BWM opposition

With only 2.46% more of world tonnage needed to ratify the convention before it enters force, ICS made the decision to reverse its long-standing opposition to the convention, following IMO’s revision of the guidelines at the industry’s behest.

Changes included a more stringent type-approval process for new systems, in order that fully type-approved equipment would not fall foul of port state control (PSC) inspections.

Sekimizu today met with ICS chairman Masamichi Morooka, agreeing to encourage IMO member governments to “start thinking how the requirements of the Convention could be improved,” according to an IMO statement.

“I recognise that the position of ICS has had a considerable influence over the decisions of IMO Member States during the last two years,” Sekimizu indicated, “and, with the change of position of ICS triggered by the resolution adopted at the latest MEPC, I now sincerely hope that those States holding tonnage of more than 2.5% will also change their position and take swift actions to ratify the BWMC as soon as possible, so that we can make real progress in dealing with the problems of invasive species through ballast water on which IMO has spent enormous amounts of time, energy and serious effort in order to protect the marine environment over the last two decades.”

Add Seatrade Maritime News to your Google News feed.