Saint Lucia Becomes 50th State to Ratify BWM Convention

IMO Saint Lucia has acceded to four IMO treaties including the Ballast Water Management (BWM) Convention, what brings the number of states having accepted the convention to 50, representing 34.81% of the worlds merchant fleet tonnage.  The convention adopted in 2004 is scheduled to enter into force 12 months after passing the required gross tonnage threshold of 35% and ratification by 30 states. Under the BWM convention, all ships in international traffic are required to manage their ballast water and sediments to a certain standard. Specifically, Saint Lucia has acceded to four IMO treaties, including: the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships Ballast Water and Sediments, 2004 Protocol of 1997 to amend the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto the International Convention on Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage, 2001 International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Fishing Vessel Personnel, 1995 According to BIMCO, it seems likely that the BWM Convention will be ratified by the states, having sufficient tonnage threshold, during 2016 and subsequently enter force into 2017.