BIMCO ANNOUNCE STEP-BY-STEP GUIDANCE SERIES TO BALLAST WATER MANAGEMENT
LONDON: December 9, 2013: BIMCO have announced plans to release a guidance series that will navigate shipowners through ballast water management implementation, in preparation for the impending ratification of the 2004 IMO Ballast Water Management Convention.
BIMCO, Copenhagen is the oldest of the international shipping associations, comprising a membership of a broad range of stakeholders with vested interests in the shipping industry, including shipowners, managers, brokers and agents. The shipowner segment alone operates about 65 per cent of the world’s merchant fleet measured in deadweight tonnage. The association’s main objective is to facilitate the commercial operations of its global membership through the provision of quality information and advice, education and training.
The guidance series will commence with the publication of a practical ‘Step-by-Step Guide to Ballast Water Management’ written in association with Fathom, the information specialists on maritime efficiency. This vital industry resource will provide holistic practical guidance that will cover all facets of ballast water management compliance, in addition to outlining the systems available to the market with specific regard to the treatment technology and their type approval status.
The release of the Guide follows the recent approval of the resolution for the Convention at the 28th session of the IMO Assembly and will serve to equip ship owners and operators with all the necessary information to navigate through ballast water management and approach regulatory demands with confidence.
Captain Peter Lundahl Rasmussen, Senior Marine Technical Officer for BIMCO commented:
“Among the major challenges for owners preparing for compliance, with the forthcoming Ballast Water Management requirements, is how to ensure a smooth transition to compliance and continued profitability in trade for their fleets – either by using alternative means of compliance or, in the main, by selecting adequate and compliant Ballast Water Management Systems suitable for the individual ships and trades. The Step-by-Step Guide to Ballast Water Management is without doubt a fully up-to-date and invaluable tool to aid owners in the search for unbiased and comprehensive information regarding the Ballast Water Management regulations and compliance.”
Catherine McMillan, Director of Operations, Fathom commented:
“Since the release of Fathom’s ‘Ballast Water Management: The Guide’ in 2011, the ballast water treatment technology market has evolved significantly. With the ratification of the Convention imminent, shipowners and operators are facing an entirely new set of challenges. With the significant investment required by owners in order to ensure compliance, it is more important than ever that concise and independently sourced information is available to owners and operators so they can steer through regulatory challenges with confidence”.
The Guide will be published at a crucial time for the shipping industry, with the ratification of the IMO Ballast Water Convention presumed to be very close. To date, countries representing just over 30% of the world’s tonnage have ratified the Convention and already reached the threshold for number of countries has already been reached. Just 4.83% is left to reach the tonnage threshold. This could be achieved by one major Flag State alone.
The Step-by-Step Guide is just one element of a multi-platform information series designed to allow owners and operators to comprehensively address the uncertainties they have on ballast water management implementation.
The release of the Guide will be followed by a webinar in January 2014 and a free shipowner summit that will take place 25-26 February 2014 in Hamburg. The summit has been developed to give shipowners the opportunity to discuss and understand the best strategies; solutions and issues concerning implementing ballast water solutions within their operations and adhering to compliance.
The Step-by-Step Guide to Ballast Water Management is available to pre-order via www.fathomshipping.com
You can reserve your pass for the Hamburg event via www.ballastwaterevent.com
ABOUT THE GUIDANCE SERIES
With the IMO Ballast Water Management Convention resolution recently approved at the IMO General Assembly and its ratification proposed to be imminent in 2014, it is crucial that shipowners understand how Ballast Water Management regulations will affect operations.
In light of this, BIMCO and Fathom have joined forces to develop a unique 3-part comprehensive series to ballast water treatment, to ensure shipowners make the most informed decisions.
Part One: The Step-by-Step Guide to Ballast Water Management is being launched in December
Part Two: The Webinar, to be held in January 2014, will dive into key issues and themes raised in the guide.
Part Three: The BIMCO-Fathom Ballast Water Summit, to be held in February 2014, will bring together shipowners, regulators, service providers, consultants and purchasers in a discussion and learning based summit.
ABOUT THE STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO BALLAST WATER MANAGEMENT
The Guide will give shipowners and operators full understanding of how ballast water management regulations and options affect their operations. It will provide full insight, comprehensive guidance and practical tools for decision-making and implementation, including:
- Regulatory requirements and what they mean.
- A technical breakdown of ballast water treatment technology.
- Key considerations – planning for compliance.
- Installation considerations (newbuilding and retrofit).
- Step-by-step guide to complying with the Convention.
- A review of all providers and systems.
ABOUT BIMCO
BIMCO is a shipping association providing a wide range of services to its global membership of stakeholders who have vested interests in the shipping industry, including shipowners, operators, managers, brokers and agents. The association’s main objective is to facilitate the commercial operations of its membership by means of developing standard contracts and clauses, and providing quality information, advice, and education.
BIMCO promotes fair business practices, free trade and open access to markets and is a strong advocate for the harmonisation and standardisation of all shipping related activity.
Accredited as a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) with all relevant United Nations agencies and other regulatory entities, BIMCO actively promotes the application of international agreed regulatory instruments. www.bimco.org
ABOUT FATHOM
Fathom pride themselves as being the information specialists on maritime efficiency. Through a unique mix of highly regarded print publications, online data portals, conferences, bespoke consultancy and more, Fathom creates accessible knowledge on key challenges facing owners, operators and the wider industry, through identifying where information voids exist for specialist insight, guidance and decision support services to assist in and inform decision making.
Fathom has published a range of technical publications to serve the thirst for knowledge in the industry, including ‘Ship Efficiency: The Guide’ ‘Ballast water Management: The Guide’ ‘The Step-By-Step SEEMP Manual’ and ‘Emission Control Areas: The Guide’ amongst many others. www.fathomshipping.com
