International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ ballast Water and Sediments, 2004

General Detail

General Information

  1. Type: Convention
  2. Date of signature:
  3. Place of signature: London, United Kingdom
  4. Depositary:
  5. Date of entry into force: 08/09/2017

Category

Environment and products

Sub category

Maritime and Law of the Sea

Groups

IMO

What is it about?

The Convention and its Annexes aim to prevent, minimize and ultimately eliminate the transfer of harmful aquatic organisms and pathogens through the control and management of ships' ballast water and sediments. Parties are given the right to take, individually or jointly with other Parties, more stringent measures with respect to the prevention, reduction or elimination of the transfer of harmful aquatic organisms and pathogens through the control and management of ships' ballast water and sediments, consistent with international law. Parties should ensure that ballast water management practices do not cause greater harm than they prevent to their environment, human health, property or resources, or those of other States.

Why is it relevant?

The Convention brings international shipping practices in line with the international environmental law. Although the procedural aspects may be considered a hindrance upon trade, the principles which the Convention aims to implement are those agreed upon by the international community.

Additional Information

The Convention will enter into force 12 months after ratification by 30 States, representing 35 per cent of world merchant shipping tonnage (Article 18 Entry into force). The necessity for this Convention is well illustrated by the devastating effects of the distribution of certain strains of Cholera in ships’ ballast water. In 1991, this distribution led to an epidemic in Peru, before sweeping across South America, affecting more than a million people and killing more than ten thousand by 1994. This particular strain had previously been reported only in Bangladesh.

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Country ratifications
CountryRatification date
Albania15/01/2009
Antigua and Barbuda19/12/2008
Barbados11/05/2007
Belgium07/03/2016
Brazil14/04/2010
Canada08/04/2010
Congo19/05/2014
Croatia29/06/2010
Denmark11/09/2012
Egypt18/05/2007
Fiji08/03/2016
France24/09/2008
Georgia12/01/2015
Germany20/06/2013
Ghana29/11/2015
Indonesia24/11/2015
Iran06/04/2011
Japan10/10/2014
Jordan09/09/2014
Kenya14/01/2008
Kiribati05/02/2007
Lebanon15/12/2011
Liberia18/09/2008
Malaysia27/09/2010
Maldives22/06/2005
Marshall Islands26/11/2009
Mexico18/03/2008
Mongolia28/09/2011
Montenegro29/11/2011
Morocco23/11/2015
Netherlands10/05/2010
Nigeria13/10/2005
Norway29/03/2007
Palau28/09/2011
Republic of Korea10/12/2009
Russian Federation24/05/2012
Saint Kitts and Nevis30/08/2005
Sierra Leone21/11/2007
South Africa15/04/2008
Spain14/09/2005
Sweden24/11/2009
Switzerland24/09/2013
Syrian Arab Republic02/09/2005
Tonga16/04/2014
Trinidad and Tobago03/01/2012
Turkey14/10/2014
Tuvalu02/12/2005
Treaties analysis
YearRatifications
20056
20075
20086
20094
20105
20115
20124
20132
20145
20154
20162
Total48
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