By
Rebecca Gibson |
Turkey ratified the Ballast Water Management (BWM) Convention 2004, on 14 October, bringing the number of contracting states to 43 countries.
The convention, which addresses the problem of invasive species being transported around the world in ships’ ballast water, has now been ratified by around 32.54% of the world’s merchant shipping tonnage. It will enter into force 12 months after the date on which it has been ratified by at least 30 states, the combined merchant fleets of which constitute 35% of the world’s gross tonnage.
Turkey’s instrument of accession was presented by His Excellency Abdurrahman Bilgiç, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, and Permanent Representative of Turkey to the International Maritime Organization, during the Marine Environment Protection Committee session this week.