International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments: Entry into force in 2017

As a partner to the IMO-Globallast network, WMU wishes to congratulate all those countries that have ratified the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments (BWM Convention), making it possible for the Convention to reach the target number of member States and tonnage to enable its entry into force.

Under the IMO-Globallast leadership, WMU contributes to numerous activities and events to promote the ratification and effective implementation of the BWM Convention at the international, regional and national levels.

Following Finland’s ratification of the BWM Convention on 8 September, its entry into force on 08 September 2017 will represent a milestone and an important contribution to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, in particular Goal 14 – Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development – and in particular Target 14.2, which sets 2020 as the target date to sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans. The BWM Convention sets global regulations to control the transfer of potentially invasive species and further improve the environmental and socio-economic sustainability of shipping.

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