BRITISH UK P&I Club insurers have issued warning about strict ballast water management controls as countries representing 32.86 per cent of the needed 35 per cent of the world's merchant tonnage have ratified the United Nations convention.
Meanwhile, 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 has signed,
The WSC president Christopher Koch says don't 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.
But ready or not, UK P&I Club senior claims executive Jacqueline Tan, said: "The coming into force of the Ballast Water Management Convention 2004 (BWMC) is now imminent."
Sensing reluctance, the UN's International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has proposed delaying penalties for two to three years once the convention comes into force, reports London's Tanker Operator.
Delaying the new rule will discourage manufacturers from continuing to invest in advancing ballast water treatment technology, she said.
"A ship will need to comply on her first IOPP renewal survey after entry into force. It is estimated that some 57,000 ships will need to comply. Assuming a maximum of 40 ships can be retrofitted a day, it will take nearly four years for all the retrofitting to be completed," said Ms Tan.
"Experts have estimated that the whole process from selecting a BWM system to installing the system takes from a minimum of six months up to a year. Worryingly, we are aware that a number of shipowners have yet to take even the first steps towards complying with this convention," she said.
"As spaces in the major shipyards are already all booked up, there is real possibility of serious bottlenecks occurring. Ships that fail to comply on time will face serious commercial disadvantages, as their trading limits will be severely restricted," she said.
WORLD SHIPPING
03 March 2015 - 07:38
Insurers urge ballast water compliance, World Shipping Council says go slow
BRITISH UK P&I Club insurers have issued warning about strict ballast water management controls as countries representing 32.86 per cent of the needed 35 per cent of the world's merchant tonnage have ratified the United Nations convention.
WORLD SHIPPING
03 March 2015 - 07:38
Insurers urge ballast water compliance, World Shipping Council says go slow
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