Page 46: of Maritime Logistics Professional Magazine (Mar/Apr 2017)

45 47

REGULATORY WATCH

Murky Waters PersistMurky Waters Persist eptember, 2016 was a milestone for the international shipping business. Fully 12 years after the internation-

Sal convention on Ballast Water Treatment (BWT) was

Ballast Water rules and agreed by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the convention was of? cially rati? ed, after Flag States for 35% approvals advanced in of merchant shipping tonnage voted “yes.” One year later, in

September 2017, the convention, impacting ocean-going ves- 2016. Shipowners, OEM’s sels of 400 gross tons, or greater, becomes effective. To put it bluntly, it’s been a long and tortured journey from 2004, and shipyards now have when the IMO’s Marine Environmental Protection Committee (MEPC) began formulating best procedures (expressed in its to do the same, as 2017 “G-8” guidelines) and best practices.

Along the way, there’s been a great deal of confusion- still ongoing, amidst murky regulatory standards (changing guide- looks to be even busier.

lines, changing standards for testing) against the backdrop of about various technologies’ viability to measure up to IMO’s dictates. Importantly, a Port State with enormous clout, re- cently brought a measure of clarity to the muddied situation.

By Barry Parker

In December 2016, the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) issued 46 Maritime Logistics Professional March/April 2017 | |