Saudi Arabia Becomes 55th State to Ratify BWM Treaty

IMO Saudi Arabia has ratified the Ballast Water Management (BWM) Convention, which is scheduled to enter into force on September 8, 2017. Saudi Arabia deposited its instrument of accession with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) on April 27. The accession brings the number of contracting parties to the convention to 55, representing 53.67% of worlds merchant shipping tonnage. Adopted in 2004, the treaty aims to counter the threat to marine ecosystems by potentially invasive species transported in ships ballast water. Under the convention’s terms, ships will be required to manage their ballast water to remove, render harmless, or avoid the uptake or discharge of aquatic organisms and pathogens within ballast water and sediments.