Ballast Water Management - Recommended Practices

The MEPC approved a draft Assembly resolution, for adoption in November 1997, which contains guidelines for port States and ships desiring to minimize the transfer of harmful aquatic organisms and pathogens. Studies submitted to previous sessions of the MEPC by several countries have shown that many species of bacteria, plants and animals survive in ballast water carried by ships and upon discharge into another port or geographic location may pose threats to indigenous human, animal and plant life and the marine environment.

The draft resolution aims to give the environment the benefit-of-the-doubt (a principle contained in the “precautionary approach” which States are requested to widely apply under the UN Conference on Environment and Development) and balances the best available scientific knowledge with operational safety, given the present state of technology.

Recommendations contained in the draft resolution are directed to shipboard operations and port States, as presented below.