BALLAST WATER EXCHANGE IN THE ANTARCTIC TREATY AREA
The Representatives,
Recalling the requirements of Annex II to the Protocol on Environmental Protection, on the Conservation of Antarctic Fauna and Flora, that precautions be taken to prevent the introduction of non-native species to the Antarctic Treaty area;
Aware of the potential for invasive marine organisms to be transported into, or moved between biologically distinct regions within, the Antarctic Treaty area, by ships in their ballast water;
Conscious that the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Waters and Sediments, 2004 (IMO Ballast Water Management Convention) has yet to enter into force;
Aware of the key principles of the IMO Ballast Water Management Convention, including that ballast water exchange be used as an interim measure until such time as ballast water treatment technologies have been developed, as set out in the Convention;
Noting the provision in the Convention which states that Parties with common interests bordering enclosed and semi-enclosed seas shall endeavour to seek co-operation with neighbouring Parties including through regional agreements to develop harmonised procedures (Article 13(3) of IMO Convention); and
Noting also that the Convention provides for a Party or Parties to put in place additional measures to require ships to meet a specified standard or requirement (Annex, Regulation C-1);
Desiring in the interim to put in place a Ballast Water Regional Management Plan for Antarctica;
Recommend that:
The Practical Guidelines for Ballast Water Exchange in the Antarctic Treaty area annexed to this Resolution be used by all ships in the Antarctic Treaty area, except those referred to in Article 3, paragraph 2, of the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Waters and Sediments, 2004 (IMO Ballast Water Management Convention).
The Representatives,
Recalling the requirements of Annex II to the Protocol on Environmental Protection, on the Conservation of Antarctic Fauna and Flora, that precautions be taken to prevent the introduction of non-native species to the Antarctic Treaty area;
Aware of the potential for invasive marine organisms to be transported into, or moved between biologically distinct regions within, the Antarctic Treaty area, by ships in their ballast water;
Conscious that the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Waters and Sediments, 2004 (IMO Ballast Water Management Convention) has yet to enter into force;
Aware of the key principles of the IMO Ballast Water Management Convention, including that ballast water exchange be used as an interim measure until such time as ballast water treatment technologies have been developed, as set out in the Convention;
Noting the provision in the Convention which states that Parties with common interests bordering enclosed and semi-enclosed seas shall endeavour to seek co-operation with neighbouring Parties including through regional agreements to develop harmonised procedures (Article 13(3) of IMO Convention); and
Noting also that the Convention provides for a Party or Parties to put in place additional measures to require ships to meet a specified standard or requirement (Annex, Regulation C-1);
Desiring in the interim to put in place a Ballast Water Regional Management Plan for Antarctica;
Recommend that:
The Practical Guidelines for Ballast Water Exchange in the Antarctic Treaty area annexed to this Resolution be used by all ships in the Antarctic Treaty area, except those referred to in Article 3, paragraph 2, of the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Waters and Sediments, 2004 (IMO Ballast Water Management Convention).
