ANNEX 2
DRAFT GUIDELINES FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF REGULATIONS FOR THE
CONTROL AND MANAGEMENT OF SHIPS' BALLAST WATER TO MINIMIZE THE
TRANSFER OF HARMFUL AQUATIC ORGANISMS AND PATHOGENS
1 Introduction
1.1 Studies carried out in several countries have shown that many species of bacteria, plants, and animals can survive in a viable form in the ballast water and sediment carried in ships, even after journeys of several weeks' duration. Subsequent discharge of ballast water or sediment, into the waters of port States, may result in the establishment of harmful species which can seriously upset the existing ecological balance. Although other media have been identified for transferring organisms between geographically separated water bodies, ballast water discharge from ships appears to have been among the most prominent. The introduction of diseases may also arise as a result of port State waters being inoculated with large quantities of ballast water containing viruses, bacteria and other harmful organisms, thereby posing health threats to indigenous human, animal and plant life, and the marine environment.
1.2 The potential for ballast water discharge to cause harm has been recognised not only by the International Maritime Organization but also by the World Health Organization which is concerned about the role of ballast water as a medium for the spreading of epidemic disease bacteria.
1.3 These guidelines are not to be regarded as a certain solution to the problem. Rather, each part of these guidelines should be viewed as tools which, if correctly applied, will help to minimize the risks associated with ballast water discharge. As scientific and technological advances are made, these guidelines will be refined to enable the risk to be more adequately addressed. In the interim, port States,
flag States and people who can assist in mitigating this problem should exercise due care and due diligence in an effort to conform to the maximum extent possible with the guidelines.
1.4 The selection of appropriate methods of risk minimization will depend upon several factors, including the type or types of organisms being targeted, the level of risk involved, its environmental acceptability, the economic and ecological costs involved and the safety of ships.
2 Definitions
For the purposes of these guidelines, the following definitions apply:
"Administration" means the Government of the State under whose authority the ship is operating.
"Convention" means MARPOL 73/78 (International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships 1973 and the Protocol of 1978 related thereto).
"Member States" means States that are Members of the International Maritime Organization.
"Organization" means the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
"Port State Authority" means any official or organization authorized by the government of a port State to administer guidelines or enforce standards and regulations relevant to the implementation of national and international shipping control measures.
