Ballast water convention: Worldwide updates

► Update 16th February 2007: Norway has announced that the ballast water exchange standards are expected to be in force at Norwegian ports by the end of this year (2007).

Norway intends to implement all the ballast water convention rules before the convention enters into force internationally. It is anticipated that:

□ ships will be expected to have ballast water management plans and ballast water record books covering ballast water exchange (end of 2007)
□ violations of the convention requirements may result in ships being detained or excluded from ports/offshore terminals or prevented from discharging ballast water
□ the Norwegian government will designate ballast exchange areas along the Norwegian coastline

Source: Wikborg Rein Shipping Offshore update

Wikborg Rein is one of Norway’s leading law firms with close to 150 lawyers in Oslo, Bergen, London, Singapore, Kobe, and Shanghai.

The IMO ballast water convention was adopted on 13th February 2004 and is expected to enter into force 12 months after ratification by 30 states representing 35% of the world merchant shipping tonnage.

The convention requires that ships meet a:
1. Ballast water exchange standard (Estimated entry into force: January 2009)
2. Ballast water performance standard