[210214.EN.SEA] Singapore Meeting to Discuss Costly UN Ballast Water Regulatory Proposals

THE IMarEST (Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology) Ballast Water Technology Asia Conference will be held on March 20 at Singapore's Marina Bay Sands hotel to address costly red-tape and refitting problems arising from the UN ballast water convention if ratified by member states.

The International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments (BWM Convention) would require all ships to implement costly ballast water and sediment management plans.

"It is thought that ratification of the convention will happen in the very near future and thoughts now turn to implementation," the statement from conference organisers.

The convention has nearly reached the necessary threshold to come into force, but has already seen its implementation dates pass, reports Lloyd's List.

Said IMO Secretary General Koji Sekimizu: "It's been almost a decade since the adoption. It really is high time to move into implementation, especially taking into account the uncertainties about the application date, with shipping companies wondering whether they should invest now or whether they should wait."

Parties to the convention are given the option to take additional measures, which are subject to criteria set out under the UN's International Maritime Organisation.

Another IMarEST Ballast Water Technology conference will take place in London on March 27-28 as delegates gather for IMO's Maritime Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 66) at the IMO's office in London the following week, see www.imarest.org/BWT .

Topics covered include the regulation and compliance session including a regulatory review - IMO and US; remaining concerns with the BWM Convention; compliance challenges: port state control and testing as well as retrofit problems for shipyards. Also discussed will be the minimum level of ballast water a ship can hold without being bothered by the above.

Further information and registration details are at www.imarest.org/BWTAsia.and from events@imarest.org and Tel: +44 (0)20 7382 2617/2702; Fax: +44 (0)20 7382 2667.

Source : HKSG.