What is the scope of the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments?

The International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments (BWM Convention) is an international agreement that came into effect in 2017, through the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The scope of the convention is to prevent, reduce and control the transfer of aquatic organisms and pathogens from one area to another through the exchange of ballast water and sediments. The purpose of the BWM Convention is to stop the spread of invasive aquatic species from port to port, by introducing mandatory regulations that require ships to treat their ballast water and sediments prior to any discharge into surrounding waters. Additionally, the convention sets out requirements for ballast water exchange and management, as well as reporting and record keeping requirements. In the state of Minnesota, both the United States Coast Guard and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency are governing entities responsible for regulating the BWM Convention, and reviewing and approving ballast water management plans. The Coast Guard has also adopted the regulations within the BWM Convention to protect the Great Lakes, and ensure that ships are in full compliance with international standards. To ensure compliance with the BWM Convention, ships must use approved ballast water management systems and treat their ballast water and sediments with effective methods of filtration and disinfection. Furthermore, ships must also be in possession of an approved Ballast Water Management Plan, as well as valid discharge certificates before entering a port. The BWM Convention ultimately strives to protect the environment from the transfer of aquatic species, pathogens, and pollutants released from ships.

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What is the scope of the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments?

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