The inability to develop legal frameworks for ballast water and ship recycling has led to some states taking the matter into their own hands by introducing particular requirements. It is time for international regulations to come into force.
A draft text of the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships Ballast Water and Sediments has been developed. It will be detailed during IMOs MEPC session in October 2002, and most probably adopted in 2003.
The new regulations include a two-tier approach:
1. Identifies a standard to which all international voyages will have to comply.
2. Accommodates regions with a particular need for a higher level of protection. It is foreseen that obtaining this status will be similar to what is required for dedicating special area status.
Actual standards have yet to be identified. A reference to ballast water exchange as an interim measure is likely for existing vessels, but in the future onboard treatment alternatives may be favoured. A clause on exemptions, a tier 0, has been proposed based on risk assessments. The Ballast Water Decision Support System, EMBLA, under development at DNV, will enable such assessments to be undertaken.
It is believed that developing a standalone legal tool, rather than adding an annex to MARPOL, is a move to speed up ratification procedures. Some states have prioritised ratification of this Convention.
Voluntary directives for ship recycling
The application of The Basel Convention on the Control of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal, made by United Nations Environmental Programme UNEP, has triggered considerable activity in IMO.
The topic for ship recycling borders the jurisdiction of other UN bodies than IMO, which has called for them to co-ordinate the efforts. Beside IMOs concern for the vessel and UNEPs responsibility for the environment onshore, the International Labour Organisation ILO is concerned about social and working conditions at facilities receiving the vessels.
UNEP has recently developed Technical Guidelines on Environmentally Sound Management for Full and Partial Dismantling of Ships. ILO is working on a similar document covering its area. It is expected that IMO by the end of 2002 will develop a guideline covering precautionary actions and procedures of verification to be applied during the process of decommissioning. It is likely that it will be harmonised with the Industries Code of Practice, developed by the International Chamber of Shipping, as well as with similar tools such as DNVs GUIDEC (Guideline for Decommissioning) and ENVER (Environmental Verification Procedures).
IMO is expected to present an Assembly Resolution on ship recycling by the end of 2002 , which will call for monitoring of voluntary tools to identify requirements for stricter measures, such as mandatory requirements.