Conservation, Environmental Pollution and Degradation, Environmental Impact Assessment
News: Does India have laws on the movement of ballast water?
What is meant by Ballast Water? How could it be serious to the aquatic ecosystem? Discuss the global regulations to deal with it and also analyze India’s position.
Recently, The Tamil Nadu Water Resources Department (WRD) has informed the National Green Tribunal that it has sought ₹160 crore from the Kamarajar Port in Ennore, Tamil Nadu, to facilitate the removal of invasive mussels on the coast near the port.
About Ballast Water:
- Ships need to have a certain level of immersion into the sea to be stable. When a ship discharges cargo, it rises up in the water and therefore, to keep a minimum level of immersion, ship staff takes in sea water called ballast water inside tanks in the ship.
- And when the ship loads cargo, leading to more immersion, the ballast water is pumped out of the ship.
Effects of Ballast water on aquatic ecosystem:
- Until recently, there was no bar on taking in and pumping out ballast water at ports, in the ocean, along the coast and so on.
- Since ballast water carries invasive species into other countries that destroy ecosystems, global shipping has sought to regulate ballast water discharge.
- In India, scientists have recorded nearly 30 invasive species coming from ship ballast water. Among the most harmful in recent times is the charru mussel, Mytella Rigata.
- In the Pulicat Lake in Tamil Nadu, as in Ashtamudi Lake in Kerala, this mussel has replaced almost all other species. Its survival rate and egg production is very high. Though of marine origin, it can survive even in freshwater.
Global Regulations:
- The Ballast Water Management (BWM) Convention of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) came into force in 2017 to help prevent the spread of potentially harmful aquatic organisms and pathogens in ships’ ballast water.
- Under the Convention, all ships in international traffic are required to manage their ballast water and sediments to a certain standard, according to a ship-specific ballast water management plan.
- All ships have to carry a ballast water record book and an international ballast water management certificate.
- From September 8, 2017, ships must manage their ballast water so that aquatic organisms and pathogens are removed or rendered harmless before the ballast water is released in a new location.
- New ships must meet the ballast water treatment standard. Existing ships should exchange ballast water mid-ocean but they will need to meet the ballast water treatment standard by the date of a specified renewal survey.
- Eventually, most ships will need to install an on-board ballast water treatment system.
- Among the countries most serious about preventing ship ballast water damaging their marine ecosystems are Australia and New Zealand.
- Australia, as a major supplier of coal and iron and other raw materials, sees much ballast water pumping out in ports. Australia is home to ecologically sensitive areas such as the Great Barrier Reef where such water can cause immense harm.
- Ships calling on Australian ports are often subject to rigorous checks including of ballast water management systems.
India’s position on regulating ballast waters:
- Documents of the IMO show that as of July 2, 97 countries have signed on to the BWM as contracting states. India is not on the list of countries. This means that there is no obligation on the part of ships calling on Indian ports to enforce the BWM convention.
- While other rules such as relating to discharge of oil apply in Indian ports, the discharge of ballast water brought in from other countries is not subject to checks or regulation.
- No restriction is seen regarding discharge of ballast water in Indian ports. In any case, ports are only a facilitator of ship traffic and cannot be held liable in such cases.
- If there is any evidence that a vessel has pumped out the ballast water that led to the invasive species, then the vessel owner can be held liable if a law is in force, that it is time for India to be signed on to the convention.
Reference: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/does-india-have-laws-against-invasive-species-from-ballast-water/article68522092.ece https://www.imo.org/en/ourwork/environment/pages/ballastwatermanagement.aspx