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Ballast Water Management Summit takes in Rotterdam October 21-22
THE 13th Ballast Water Management Summit will take place in Rotterdam from October 21-22, conference organisers Active Communications International (ACI) have announced.
Proponents of the UN's International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Ballast Water Convention expect the treaty will be ratified this year as only 2.14 per cent of the required 35 per cent global tonnage remaining to be signed.
But the World Shipping Council (WSC) has advised countries not to ratify convention, which would come into force 12 months after the requisite number of signatories have signed,
The WSC president Christopher Koch says advises not to sign until there is a globally accepted ballast water treatment technology to do the job.
"Regulations that require multi-billion dollar investment should also provide certainty that the technology if properly installed and properly operated will meet regulatory obligations for the life of the vessel. We are not there yet," Mr Koch said.
Mr Koch said while there is general, global acceptance of the IMO's ballast water treatment discharge standard, there is today no globally accepted ballast water treatment technology that meets that standard.
Once ratified, shipowners will be required to implement BWT Systems on certain vessels, within a year of ratification. The cost, installation and operation of BWT Systems, alongside the uncertainty of USCG Type Approval and IMO Regulations, are causing major problems for both the BWT System Manufacturers and shipowner/operators, say conference organisers.
"ACI's 13th Ballast Water Management Summit will provide essential, expert guidance to shipowner/operators on how to prepare for and manage the BWT Systems in terms of installation and technical operations, as well as advice on compliance, PSC and regulation once the convention is in place," said the ACI statement.
Proponents of the UN's International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Ballast Water Convention expect the treaty will be ratified this year as only 2.14 per cent of the required 35 per cent global tonnage remaining to be signed.
But the World Shipping Council (WSC) has advised countries not to ratify convention, which would come into force 12 months after the requisite number of signatories have signed,
The WSC president Christopher Koch says advises not to sign until there is a globally accepted ballast water treatment technology to do the job.
"Regulations that require multi-billion dollar investment should also provide certainty that the technology if properly installed and properly operated will meet regulatory obligations for the life of the vessel. We are not there yet," Mr Koch said.
Mr Koch said while there is general, global acceptance of the IMO's ballast water treatment discharge standard, there is today no globally accepted ballast water treatment technology that meets that standard.
Once ratified, shipowners will be required to implement BWT Systems on certain vessels, within a year of ratification. The cost, installation and operation of BWT Systems, alongside the uncertainty of USCG Type Approval and IMO Regulations, are causing major problems for both the BWT System Manufacturers and shipowner/operators, say conference organisers.
"ACI's 13th Ballast Water Management Summit will provide essential, expert guidance to shipowner/operators on how to prepare for and manage the BWT Systems in terms of installation and technical operations, as well as advice on compliance, PSC and regulation once the convention is in place," said the ACI statement.
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