Thalatha Sreeni Ranasinghe and Raphael Baumler
Marine Environment Protection Authority, Sri Lanka
World Maritime University, Sweden
Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Pollut Eff Cont
The release of unmanaged ships� ballast water (BW) affects marine ecosystems, humans and their activities. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) adopted the Ballast Water Management (BWM) Convention to prevent, and eradicate this risk. In this study, classification of the main requirements of the BWM convention was done by Flag State (FS), Port States (PS) and Coastal States (CS). Five basic requirements as FS are identified as Guidance, National Strategy & legislations, Survey, certification & recognized organizations, Approval for BWM Systems, Training of crew members & transfer of knowledge and Violation detections, sanction & investigation. Five basic requirements as PS was identified; Protecting port areas & socioeconomic activities, Compliance monitoring & enforcement, Training of Port State Control officers, Regional and international cooperation and Sediment reception facilities. Also, five basic requirements identified as CS are Environment monitoring & scientific research, Contingency plans, preparedness, awareness & additional measures, Risk assessments, exemptions & determination of designated areas, Detection and investigation of violations & notification and Regional & international cooperation. Sri Lanka is exposed and vulnerable to Invasive Alien Species (IAS). Inclusive study of the risks of IAS was carried out and information collected regarding the exposure and the preparedness of the ratification of BWM in Sri Lanka as FS, PS and CS. Critically analyzed the current position of the country in relation to ballast water and sediment management practices. Financial, legal and institutional capacities are identified as the main challenges of the implementation process of the BWM Convention in Sri Lanka.
