Two international treaties to protect the ocean reach 100 accessions

Key IMO instruments that protect the marine environment - the Ballast Water Management Convention and the Anti-Fouling Systems Convention - have recently achieved the milestone of 100 ratifications.

The Solomon Islands became the 100th State Party to the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments (BWM Convention) when it deposited its instrument of accession on 27 November, in the margins of the 34th session of the IMO Assembly.

Equatorial Guinea deposited its instruments of accession for both the BWM Convention and the International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-Fouling Systems on Ships (AFS Convention) on 3 December, also in the margins of the 34th Assembly, becoming the the 100th State Party to the AFS Convention and bringing the number of Parties to the BWM Convention to 101.

With the recent ratifications, the mandatory regulations for ballast water management now apply to 93.73% of world merchant shipping by tonnage, while those for anti-fouling systems now cover 95.77% of world merchant shipping by tonnage.

Regulations to protect the marine environment

The Ballast Water Management Convention, adopted in 2004 and in force since 2017, prevents the spread of harmful aquatic organisms to new environments via ships' ballast water (seawater taken on board for ship stability). Regulations require ships to manage their ballast water and sediments through ship-specific plans, including operational practices, record-keeping and certification, to achieve a mandatory discharge standard.

The Anti-Fouling Systems Convention, adopted in 2001 and in force since 2008, prohibits the use of anti-fouling paints that contain certain harmful substances (used on ships to prevent organisms such as algae and molluscs from attaching themselves to the hull), which can harm marine life and ecosystems.

These conventions are among more than 50 international treaties, conventions and protocols that form the basis of the IMO's global maritime framework to support safe, efficient and environmentally-sound international shipping.