BWMkonvensjonen

The BWMkonvensjonen, officially the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments, 2004, is an international treaty adopted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). Its primary objective is to prevent the introduction of invasive aquatic species into marine environments by ships. Ships take on ballast water to maintain stability and trim, and this water can contain organisms from one location that are then released into another, potentially disrupting local ecosystems and economies.

The convention requires ships to implement ballast water management plans, which include procedures for ballast water exchange or treatment. Ballast water exchange involves pumping out ballast water in the open sea and replacing it with cleaner water from the upper layers of the ocean, where fewer organisms are likely to survive. Alternatively, ships can install ballast water treatment systems that kill or remove harmful organisms before they are discharged.

The BWMkonvensjonen entered into force on September 8, 2017. Its implementation has been a significant undertaking for the maritime industry, requiring new technologies, operational procedures, and compliance measures. The treaty aims to protect marine biodiversity and safeguard the ecological and economic interests of coastal states. It mandates that ships carry a ballast water record book and a ballast water management certificate, subject to inspections by port State control.

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