ANNEX 1
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS AND COMMENTS ON THE
DRAFT
REGULATIONS AND CODE FOR THE CONTROL AND MANAGEMENT
OF SHIPS' BALLAST WATER AND SEDIMENTS TO MINIMIZE THE
TRANSFER OF HARMFUL AQUATIC ORGANISMS AND PATHOGENS
(in the form of an Annex to MARPOL 73/78)
Comments and proposed amendments submitted to MEPC 42 for
consideration as set out in documents MEPC 42/8/2. MEPC 42/8/3.
MEPC 42/8/4 and MEPC 42/8/9 have been reviewed by the Ballast
Water Working Group. The results of this review, together
with a compilation of the proposed amendments, are set out in
this annex.
MEPC 43/4
ANNEX 1
Page 2
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS AND COMMENTS ON THE
DRAFT REGULATIONS FOR THE CONTROL AND MANAGEMENT OF
SHIPS' BALLAST WATER AND SEDIMENTS TO MINIMIZE THE
TRANSFER OF HARMFUL AQUATIC ORGANISMS AND PATHOGENS
(In the form of an Annex to MARPOL 73/78)
Key: Italics = Text from IMO resolution
Underline or strike= Swedish proposal
comments in footnotes
General comments
United Kingdom
Many of the draft regulations are written in terms of‘Parties
shall....’even though the action is essentially for the
ship. In keeping with Article I of MARPOL, and general
practice in MARPOL Annexes, it is suggested that the wording
be simplified to‘Ships shall.... ’where applicable.
Brazil
Brazil invites the Ballast Water WG to consider the inclusion
of the following suggestions in the draft:
・ Adopt the risk assessment concept for the ballast
water exchange operation. Neither of all ships, in all
voyages, need to exchange ballast water; the draft should be
revised accordingly to ensure the inclusion of this concept.
When the ship is going to a voyage between two ports in which
the eco-systems are similar/ compatible, then, we understand
that the ballast water exchange operation is unnecessary and
it should not be required. We consider necessary to specify
this in the ballast regulations.
・ The criteria for the adoption of the new Aunex,
when appropriate, should be the same used for Annex ? of
MARPOL (on air pollution prevention) that is: 1 2 months
after 15 States totalling 50% GRT of the world merchant fleet
ratify the Annex;
Brazil invites the Ballast Water WG to consider the following
general goals that should be achieved before the adoption of
the new Annex Part B:
・ The model for the Ship Ballast Water Management
Plan needs to be drafted and proposed to IMO. This will be
necessary to enable the evaluation of the whole operational
and economic impact of a possible Annex ? of MARPOL to the
shipping industry/activities.
・ The absence of sufficient data related to
environment indigenous species in the majority of the States
is a barrier that should be considered. This barrier needs to
be removed in order to enable adequate conditions to the Port
States perform the ship's ballast water inspections and to
apply risk assessment methodology for ship ballast water
consideration (or acceptance) in port areas (in a global
basis).
H:/MEPC/43/4.WPD
MED/MN/HBu/jeh
