RESOLUTION A.868(20)
adopted on 27 November 1997
GUIDELINES FOR THE CONTROL AND MANAGEMENT OF SHIPS' BALLAST
WATER TO MINIMIZE TIHE TRANSFER OF HARMFUL
AQUATIC ORGANISMS AND PATHOGENS
THE ASSEMBLY,
RECALLINC Article 15(j) of the Convention on the International Maritime Organization conceming the hnctions of the Aqsembly in relation to regulations and guidelines conceming prevention and control of marine pollution from ships,
RECALLING ALSO resolution A774(18) by tvhich h reco,s't,ed tla te uncontrolled dbcharge of ballast waler and sediment from ships has le{i to he E.anfer of harmful aquaic organisms and pathogens, causing injury to public health and damage to property and the environment, and accordingiy adopted Guidelines for Preventing the Introduction oFUnwanted Aquatic Oganisms and Pathogens fom Ships' Ballast Water and Sediment Discharges, and hrther thal the Marine Environment Protection Commitee (MEPC) and he Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) shall keep the ballast waler issue and the applicaion of he Guidelines under rgview with a view to further developing the Guidelines as a bsis for a new Annex t0 MARPOL 73/78,
RECALLING FURTHER that the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), in its Agenda 21 requests IMO to consider the adoption of appropriate mles on ballast water discharge to prevcnt he spread of non-indigenous organiqms, and hnher proclaims in its Declaration on Environment and Development ha Smes shall widely apply the precautionay approach according to their capabilities,
BEARING IN MIND that MEPCCirc.288 recognized that the existig Guidelines do notprovide a complete solution towards the totaj prevention of the inrroduction of harmful aquaic organisms and pahogers, but urged thal fons should be directed on measures aimed at minimijng the risk, emphasizing hrther that in applying the existing Cuidelines, the ship's safety was of paramount importance,
NOTING the objectives of the Convendon on Biological Diversity, 1992, and that the transfer md introduction of alien aqllatic species with ballast water threatens the conservaton and sustainable use of biological diversity,
NOTING FURTHER he sans of work carried out by MEPC as requested by resolution A774(18) concerning the development of legally binding provisions on ballast water management togeber-wid guidelines for their effeaive implementaio1 as well as the Guidance on Safety Aspecu of Ballgt Waler Exchange al Sea prepared by the Sub.Commimee on Ship Design and Equipmemt, and distribmed as MEPC/Circ.329 and MSC/Circ.806, both of 30 june 1997,
