34 With reference to provisions concerning port State control and management, the United States delegation emphasized the need to establish workshops and to develop training packages for personnel involved in ballast water control arrangements and procedures. Other delegations drew attention to the need to develop awareness programmers and training material for seafarers.
35 The German delegation informed the Working Group of a proposal for a regional project on ballast water involving a number of countries of the European Union, with advisory consultations involving experts from countries outside Europe. The funding of this project is being considered by the European Commission1. The project included the development of sampling techniques, identification of hot spot
areas, development of risk analysis modules and the establishment of information networks. Close co-operation with the above GEF project that is being executed by IMO was foreseen, particularly in regard to the holding of workshops and the preparation of training packages.
Draft Assembly resolution to implement Guidelines for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water to Minimize the Transfer of Harmful Aquatic Organisms and Pathogens
36 The Working Group recalled the instructions given by the Chairman of the Committee to prepare a draft resolution on ballast water control and management for consideration and adoption by the forthcoming IMO Assembly with a view to providing additional emphasis on the need for appropriate ballast water management procedures.
account the following material:
.1 the text of a draft Assembly resolution prepare. d intersessionally by the Secretariat 0VIEPC 40/10, annex 2);
.2 draft guidelines (part 1) for the control and management .of ships' ballast water (MEPC 40/10, annex 1) prepared by the Working Group during MEPC 39 on the basis of implementation guidelines which had originally been prepared. for the application and implementation of legally binding provisions;
.3 guidance on Safety Aspects of Ballast water Exchange at Sea (MEPC 40/10, annex 3) which had been prepared by the Sub-Committee on Ship Design and Equipment and had been distributed as a joint MEPC/MSC Circular (MSC/Circ. 806, MEPC/Circ.329 of
30 June 1997);
.4 advice from the above Sub-Committee concerning the need for detailed studies with a view to further evaluating the hazards and potential consequences for various ship types and operations (MEPC 40/10, annex 4); and
.5 comments and proposals for part 2 of the draft guidelines prepared by the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) jointly with INTERTANKO, and distributed to all members of the Ballast Water Working Group by letter of 2 September 1997.
37 The Working Group further emphasized the need that the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) include in its workplan the evaluation of information received from interested Parties on the detailed studies referred to in sub-paragraph 35.4 above. the MSC was also requested to consider any other relevant issue concerning ballast water management as well as design objectives for new ships with a view to minimizing to the extent possible the risks of introducing harmful aquatic organisms and pathogens with ships' ballast
1) Since presentation of this matter at MEPC 40, thc project has been approved.
