Ballast Water Convention
The Ballast Water Convention shall hinder the transport of invasive alien species
Caused by increasing problems through the transport of invasive alien species in the ballast water tanks of ships the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has developed a Ballast Water Convention. This Ballast Water Convention has been adopted in the year 2004 by a Diplomatic Conference. Up to now not enough IMO Member States have ratified this Convention which is therefore international not in force yet.
The Convention itself accepts two standards for the treatment of ballast water to minimise the risk for the transport of unwanted alien species which are the
- D1 Standard and the
- D 2 Standard.
The D1 Standard can be achieve by an ballast water exchange which is allowed for a certain period of time after the entry into force of the Ballast Water Convention. But the D2 standard can only be achieved by an approved ballast water treatment plant. Up to now a number of approved ballast water treatment plants are available on the market.
