MEPC/Res.188(59)
Installation of ballast water management systems on new ships in accordance with the application dates contained in the Ballast Water Management convention (BWM convention)
THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION COMMITTEE,
RECALLING Article 38(a) of the Convention on the International Maritime Organization concerning the functions of the Marine Environment Protection Committee conferred upon it by the international conventions for the prevention and control of marine pollution,
RECALLING ALSO the adoption by the International Conference on Ballast Water Management for Ships, held at the Organization's Headquarters in 2004, of the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments (hereinafter "the BWM Convention"),
RECALLING FURTHER that, on entry into force, the BWM Convention will require ships to install ballast water management systems, which meet the D-2 standard stipulated therein,
NOTING that the Assembly, at its twenty-fifth session in November 2007, adopted resolution A.1005(25) on the "Application of the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments, 2004", which calls on States that have not yet ratified the BWM Convention to do so as soon as possible, and recommends that ships subject to regulation B-3.3 constructed in 2009 should not be required to comply with regulation D-2 until their second annual survey, but no later than 31 December 2011, if type-approved technology is not immediately available to achieve the D-2 standard set forth in the BWM Convention,
NOTING ALSO that resolution A.1005(25) requests the Committee to keep this resolution under review and, in particular, to review the issue of a ship subject to regulation B-3.3 constructed in 2010 and the immediate availability of type-approved technology for such a ship to meet the D-2 standard,
NOTING FURTHER that at its fifty-ninth session the Committee concluded that there are sufficient type-approved ballast water treatment technologies available for ships subject to regulation B-3.3 constructed in 2010 and that no changes to Assembly resolution A.1005(25) are needed,
RECOGNIZING that while the requirements of regulation B-3.3 cannot be enforced before the entry into force of the BWM Convention, it should be clearly understood that the ballast water management systems installed on ships constructed in 2010 will have to meet these requirements once the BWM Convention enters into force,
- CALLS ON States which have not yet ratified, accepted, approved or acceded to the BWM Convention to do so at their earliest convenience;
- INVITES Administrations to encourage the installation of ballast water management systems on new ships in accordance with the application dates contained in the BWM Convention; and
- INVITES Member States to bring this resolution to the attention of shipowners, shipbuilders, and manufacturers of ballast water management systems, as well as any other parties concerned.