THE UN's International Maritime Organisation (IMO) appears to have relented on forcing owners to install costly shipboard ballast-water treatment systems, but thus far the US remains adamant.
The US said it will not ratify the convention, having drawn up its own regulations. Newbuildings discharging ballast in US waters need to install a ballast-water system. Vessels built before this month will have until either 2014 or 2016, depending on their ballast capacities to be compliant.
The IMO convention was agreed to 2004 following a fuss over invasive species being transferred in ships' ballast tanks from one ecosystem to another, leading to feared ecological disasters.
The convention comes into force a year after the percentage of the global fleet represented by member states exceeds 35 per cent, with 31 per cent having already been reached.
The rule was widely expected to come into force in just over a year from now meaning thousands of vessels will suddenly need to be compliant.
But an agreed recommendation will allow flag states to give owners up to the first special survey date of a vessel after the convention comes into force. For some owners this could mean as much as five years, says Lloyd's List. Once the convention comes into force its wording will be amended to give owners longer to comply.
The proposal has now been approved by committee at the IMO assembly and is widely expected to be rubber stamped during the final plenary day of the meeting this week.
Shipping has been critical of the convention, which was written in 2004, when there were no treatment systems in existence
According to a biennial report of technology systems, due to be updated by UK class society Lloyd's Register, 71 systems are being developed or have been put through the testing requirements.
So far, 31 systems have gained full type-approval, according to the guidelines the IMO wrote at the time of the convention agreement.
