The Ballast Water Countdown

IMO, with BWM.1/Circ.15, as updated on their WebSite today, advised that Brazil had ratified the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast water and Sediments, 2004. With this signature there are now 24 Contracting States to the Convention, representing approx. 23.29% of the gross tonnage of the world's merchant shipping.

The convention will enter into force 12 months after the date on which at least 30 states, representing 35% of the world's gross tonnage have signed on. It seems the convention will come into force, pretty well as was indicated at the last CMAC meeting.

Canadian shipowners might want to consider the possibility, that Ballast Water regulations might apply to domestic shipping, eventually as well; as was suggested at the CMAC meeting.