Chamber of Shipping Wants U.S. Ballast Water Rules Adopted Worldwide
There are "genuine concerns about the availability of suitable ballast water treatment equipment, the robustness of the type approval process, and the huge expense of retrofitting existing ships,” said newly elected ICS Chairman Masamichi Morooka of Japan at the International Chamber of Shipping annual meeting May 24-25 in Australia. Because of major changes proposed at the International Maritime Organization, the new ballast water rules haven't taken effect, but they may do so within the next 12-18 months, he said. The delay creates other problems for shipowners due to the fixed dates by which existing ships have to install the very expensive new treatment equipment.
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“A very large number of ships will need to be retrofitted, a process that cannot begin properly until the various IMO Guidelines have been finalised," Morooka said. "ICS has concluded that the issue of fixed dates needs to be addressed urgently, and that a serious discussion is needed at IMO before the Convention enters into force.”
For the sake of global uniformity, ICS members decided to ask that IMO consider aligning its draft guidelines with those of the U.S. The relevant ICS Committees are to prepare a submission to the next meeting of the IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee in October.