International convention for the management of ships’ ballast water to be adopted

The Finnish Government proposed on 16 June 2016 that the President of the Republic adopt the international convention for the management of ships' ballast water. It was also proposed that the President would ratify acts that lay down the provisions on the entry into force of the convention. The acts will become effective only after the convention has entered into force in Finland and internationally.

The convention will enter into force 12 months after the date on which 30 states and 35 per cent of the world's tonnage are covered by it. This is estimated to take place in 2017.

The convention contains provisions on ballast water management and any exceptions, exemptions and control related to it. The International Maritime Organisation, IMO, adopted the convention in 2004.

With the convention, ballast water treatment equipment must be installed in ships in international traffic. The IMO decided in 2013 that treatment equipment can be installed in vessels gradually so that installations must be completed within five years of the entry into force of the convention, that is by 2022.

The convention will have positive effects on the Finnish marine technology industry (clean tech) as the market on new ballast water management systems is expected to expand.

Inquiries: Ms Lolan Eriksson, Senior Government Adviser, tel. +358 40 744 8118