1 Introduction
Clasification Society 2024 - Version 9.40
Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - Circulars - Maritime Safety Committee - MSC/Circular.1021 – Design Suggestions for Ballast Water and Sediment Management Options in New Ships – (Adopted on 21 March 2002) - Annex - Design Suggestions for Ballast Water and Sediment Management Options in New Ships - 1 Introduction

1 Introduction

  1.1 Ballast water carried in ships to maintain safety and stability at sea has been recognized as one of the major pathways for the transfer of harmful aquatic organisms and pathogens around the world. Although ballast water has been carried around the world for many years, interest in ballast water as a global environmental problem has only attracted significant interest in recent years with the documented establishment of a number of aquatic pest species. The significance of the problem has been influenced greatly by the expansion in worldwide shipping and reduced voyage times with some 12 billion tonnes of ballast water now carried around the world annually. Scientific research indicates that several thousand species are transported in the ballast water of ships each day.

  1.2 Therefore, the need is emphasized for ballast water and sediment management options to be taken into account when designing and building new ships and, in this regard the shipping industry should be contacted for design considerations. A range of suggested design considerations for new ships are given in the guidance.

Parent topic: Annex - Design Suggestions for Ballast Water and Sediment Management Options in New Ships
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