1 Ballast water carried in ships to maintain safety
and stability has been recognized as one of the major pathways for
the transfer of harmful aquatic organisms and pathogens around the
world. This threat to the aquatic environment has been acknowledged
by the Convention on Biological Diversity, 1992, in Article 196 of
the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, 1982, and by
other relevant international agreements.
2 A draft international convention for the control
and management of ship's ballast water and sediments as well as associated
guidelines for its implementation is being developed for consideration
and adoption by a diplomatic conference in 2003. This is based on
resolution A.868(20) concerning
the Guidelines for the control and management of ship's ballast water
to minimize the transfer of harmful aquatic organisms and pathogens.
3 The paramount importance of the safety of a
ship is acknowledged when developing ballast water management measures
to prevent, reduce and eliminate the transfer of harmful aquatic organisms
and pathogens.
4 It was agreed that it is essential to continue
the development of safer and more effective Ballast Water Management
options that will result in continued reduction and eventual elimination
of the transfer of harmful aquatic organisms and pathogens.
5 The Maritime Safety Committee at its seventy-fourth
session (May 2001) and the Marine Environment Protection Committee
at its forty-seventh session (March 2002) emphasized the need for
ballast water and sediment management options to be taken into account
when designing and building new ships, while noting that the future
convention might require the development of ballast water management
plans both for new and existing ships and approved the Guidance on
“Design Suggestions for Ballast Water and Sediment Management
Options in New Ships”, as set out in the annex hereto.
6 Member Governments are invited to apply the
annexed Guidance until the International Convention for the Control
and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments is adopted and
enters into force, to bring the Guidance to the attention of ship-builders,
ship-owners, shipmasters and other parties concerned. Member Governments
are also invited to inform the Organization on any experience gained
in the implementation of this Guidance.