INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANIZATION

E
IMO

MARINE ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION

COMMITTEE
58th session
Agenda item 2

MEPC 58/INF.4
14 July 2008
ENGLISH ONLY

HARMFUL AQUATIC ORGANISMS IN BALLAST WATER

First Regional Steering Committee Meeting on
Ballast Water Management
Submitted by ROPME/MEMAC
SUMMARY
Executive summary:

This document provides information on the First Regional Steering

Committee Meeting on Ballast Water Management held in
the Kingdom of Bahrain from 27 to 29 January 2008

Strategic Direction:

3.1

High-level Action:

3.1.1

Planned output:

3.1.1.1

Action to be taken:

Paragraph 7

Related documents:

Background
1
In responding to the need for a regional approach to the ballast water issue in
the ROPME Sea Area (RSA), the First Regional Conference on Ballast Water Management was
convened in Tehran, Iran (Islamic Republic of) from 17 to 19 June 2002. The Regional Conference
developed and adopted a Regional Strategic Action Plan for Ballast Water Management in
the ROPME Sea Area.
2
In the light of the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships
Ballast Water and Sediments, 2004, and considering the specific provisions of the Convention, it
is desired that a revision of this Strategic Action Plan be undertaken to provide the regional
framework for co-operation and harmonized national policies to address the issue of ballast
water.

For reasons of economy, this document is printed in a limited number. Delegates are
kindly asked to bring their copies to meetings and not to request additional copies.

I:\MEPC\58\INF-4.doc

MEPC 58/INF.4

-2-

3
In this regard, in order to properly follow up the ballast water management issues in
the ROPME Sea Area, the First Regional Steering Committee Meeting was held in
the Kingdom of Bahrain from 27 to 29 January 2008.
The Meeting was attended
by 40 representatives from the region, a representative from IMO GloBallast Partnerships, and
international experts.
Objectives
4

The objectives of the meeting were as follows:

-

to enhance the regional co-operation and coordination for the protection of marine
environment through the existing international and regional mechanisms;

to identify and agree upon a set of measures and activities designed to minimize
the transfer of harmful aquatic organisms in ships ballast water into
the ROPME Sea Area;

to facilitate the preparatory process for the introduction of new regulations

consistent with the Ballast Water Management Convention, including procedures
and technologies for ballast water management and control within the ROPME
Sea Area; and

to assist the RSA Member States in their efforts towards early accession to and
ratification of the Ballast Water Management Convention.

Outcome of the meeting

5
After two days discussions to find the most appropriate ways to improve the regional
co-operation in regard to ballast water management in the ROPME Sea Area, the meeting
approved the following:
-

the Revised Regional Strategic Action Plan to minimize the transfer of harmful
aquatic organisms and pathogens in ships ballast water; and

the Roadmap for implementation of the Regional Strategic Action Plan for Ballast
Water Management in RSA.

6
The Regional Strategic Action Plan and the Roadmap were formally approved and
adopted by the fourteenth ROPME Council.
Action requested of the Committee
7

The Committee is invited to note the information provided.

______________

I:\MEPC\58\INF-4.doc