Ballast water uncertainty

ONE of the biggest costs facing the global shipping industry is the installation of equipment to kill marine organisms present in the water used as ballast.

Back in 2004 the International Maritime Organization (IMO) passed the International Convention for The Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments (BWM Convention). It still has not come into force because it needs to be ratified by 30 countries representing 35 per cent of the world fleet's gross tonnage.

Right now 44 countries have ratified, but they represent just under 33 per cent of the world's tonnage.