November 2014: Two international events in Singapore and Brazil addressed administrative, technological and scientific developments relating to ballast water management (BWM) to prevent threats from marine invasive species in international maritime transport, highlighting the imminent entering into force of the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments.

The seventh International Conference on Ballast Water Management (ICBWM), held from 5-7 November 2014, in Singapore, addressed practical issues of implementation of the Convention at all levels, including through international organizations, governments and ship owners and operators. Participants discussed, among other issues: methods and emerging issues in BWM; ballast water treatment systems; operational challenges; experiences in fitting and retro-fitting for BWM; and methods and emerging scientific topics.

The eighth Brazilian Seminar on Ballast Water, held 10-12 November 2014 in Arraial do Cabo, Brazil, served as a forum for consultation and communication between Parties participating in the GloBallast Programme supported by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). Participants addressed technical issues and challenges of BWM and discussed experiences and progress made to date in the lead partnering countries.

The International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments was negotiated under the IMO and adopted in 2004. The Convention has been ratified by 40 countries and is expected to enter into force next year. The main objective of the Convention is to decrease the rate of bio-invasions that result from shipping. [GloBallast Partnership] [ICDWM Website] [Brazilian Ballast Water Seminar Agenda] [IMO News]