Sweden; United Kingdom; United States; Hong Kong, China; UNDP; ICS; IAPH. BIMCO; IACS;
OCIMF; FOEI; INTERTANKO; IUCN; ICCL; WWF.
Consideration of documentation submitted to MEPC 40
5 The Working Group reviewed the first part of draft guidelines prepared at MEPC 39 as part of a new Assembly resolution as set out in MEPC 40/10, annex 1. It further agreed to incorporate a draft text prepared by ICS jointly with INTERTANKO which was informally tabled at this meeting to assist in completing the guidelines as part of the new draft Assembly resolution. It further reviewed the text of a draft Assembly resolution prepared by the Secretariat shown in MEPC 40/10, annex 2. Further action taken by the Working Group in relation to the completion of the text for the Assembly resolution is reflected in paragraphs 36 'to 38 below.
Invasion of aquatic species in the River Plate estuary
6 Argentina reported on research carried out on macrobenthos of the River Plate estuary (MEPC 40/10/1), demonstrating that unintentional introductions and subsequent invasions of bivalves have recently increased considerably in light of increase of transoceanic traffic. New species have been introduced with ships' ballast water from all regions of the world, but particularly from South East Asia. Argentina is continuing to monitor the situation, emphasizing the need for urgent measures.
UNDP/IMO GEF project
7 The Working Group was informed of the project accepted by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) conceming Removal of Barriers to the Effective Implementation of Ballast Water Control and Management Measures in Developing Countries (MEPC 40/10/2). The project is discussed under paragraph 29 to 35 below.
Risk assessment framework
8 Australia advised the Committee that it strongly supported the introduction of an intemational regulatory framework for ballast water management by means of an annex to MARPOL 73/78 as soon as possible (MEPC 40/10/3). The Committee was requested to pursue this target as a matter or urgency. This was particularly necessary in light of the increasing number of individual States which are taking unilateral action by introducing ballast water management arrangements to minimize the impact on their marine environments from unwanted aquatic organisms. The regulatory framework should include flexible optional arrangements in relation to the application of the provisions. In this regard port States could carry out risk assessments, the results of which would then allow them to take action in relation to individual ports, their environments and individual voyages.
9 A Decision Support System (DSS) developed by Australia (MEPC 40/INF. 7) was proposed to form an integral part of ballast water management arrangements. As the basis for ballast water management decisions a risk assessment framework should provide specific information on each individual voyage, based on the following:
.1 characteristics of the port of uptake of ballast water;
.2 treatment of ballast water en-route; and
.3 characteristics of the intended port of discharge.
