Shipowners invest millions in protecting the marine environment

Hamburg, 08.09.2017 - The German Shipowners' Association (VDR) sees the entry into force of the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) Ballast Water Convention on 8 September as a further contribution by merchant shipping to protecting the marine environment and at the same time points out the additional investment required by shipowners.

Ralf Nagel, Executive Member of the VDR Executive Committee: "If ships clean the ballast water on board, microorganisms can no longer travel as 'stowaways' to foreign marine regions and influence the ecosystem. For German shipowners, the Ballast Water Convention is an important contribution to protecting the marine environment. The IMO has once again effectively set global standards that apply to all shipping companies and therefore do not distort competition. At the same time, the convention is the most expensive environmental regulation that shipping has ever had to shoulder. The next few years will show whether every shipping company will be able to make the investment of up to two million euros per ship in view of the severe shipping crisis."

Over a period of seven years, around 40,000 ships worldwide must have a ballast water treatment system installed as soon as they are in the shipyard for a routine overhaul. Flag states can approve exceptions for dredgers and offshore vessels. Ships that operate exclusively within waters with the same marine animals and microorganisms - for example in the North Sea or Baltic Sea - can also be granted an exemption. Until a ballast water system is installed, ships on international voyages must always exchange their ballast water during their voyage on the open sea in order to prevent the spread of microorganisms.

Ships fill and empty their ballast water tanks depending on the weight of the cargo on board in order to remain stable in the water and thus be able to sail as safely and economically as possible.

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