Lloyd's Maritime and Commercial Law Quarterly
International Maritime Law
Simon Baughen*
INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS
242. Ballast Water Management Convention: The International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments (Ballast Water Management Convention) 2004 (IMO).
The Convention is directed at the major threat to the marine ecosystems of invasive aquatic species, with shipping identified as a major pathway for the introduction of species to new environments. The Convention requires all ships in international traffic to manage their ballast water and sediments to a certain standard, according to a ship-specific ballast water management plan. All ships will also have to carry a ballast water record book and an international ballast water management certificate.
The Convention entered into force on 8 September 2017. Vessels whose construction begins on or after 8 September 2017 will have to be delivered with a BWM system. Vessels already built as at 8 September 2017 will have to install a BWM system by their first International Oil Pollution Prevention renewal survey after 8 September 2019. As this survey takes place every five years, some vessels will have up to September 2024 to install BWM systems. In the interim, existing vessels will be required to exchange their ballast water in open seas, away from coastal waters, ideally at least 200 nautical miles from land and in water at least 200m deep.
243. HNS Convention: The International Convention on Liability and Compensation for Damage in Connection with the Carriage of Hazardous and Noxious Substances by Sea (2010 HNS Convention) (IMO)
On 21 April 2017 Norway became the first state to ratify the 2010 HNS Convention. Norway also provided data on the total quantities of contributing cargo liable for contributions received in Norway during the preceding calendar year. On 23 April 2018 Turkey and Canada ratified the Convention.
244. MARPOL: Annex VI to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL Convention) (IMO)
Regulation 14 provides a current global limit for sulphur content of ships’ fuel oil of 3.50% m/m (mass by mass) and provided for a lower cap of no more than 0.50% m/m
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