BALLAST WATER MANAGEMENT IMPLEMENTATION
Services provide services towards the smooth operation
Ballast water is carried by ships to maintain stability and
seaworthiness, especially when it is not carrying cargo. It is estimated that
7000 species of plants, animals, and other organisms are transported every day
in ballast water.
Scientific research has now proven that the
discharge of ballast containing certain species can have a serious effect on
the ecological balance of the environment in which the ballast is discharged.
The introduction of foreign species can impact local biodiversity and
ecological systems, human health, and the local economy. This has been
recognized by the IMO and the World Health Organisation. The ballast water and
sediments carried by ships have been identified as a major pathway for
transporting harmful invasive aquatic organisms and pathogens.
