Under the framework of the EU funded SAFEMED IV project, EMSA delivered a training on the implementation and enforcement of the IMO’s Ballast Water Management Convention. Overall, 18 participants from Algeria, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia, attended the event held at EMSA premises in Lisbon, Portugal, from 29 to 30 October 2019.

The process of loading and unloading untreated ballast water poses a major threat to the environment, public health and the economy as ships become a vector for the transfer of organisms between ecosystems, from one part of the world to another. In this context, participants were provided with detailed information regarding the framework for Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement of the BWM Convention, an update on Ballast Water Treatment Technology, the PSC view of control, monitoring and enforcement of the BWM Convention, sampling and type approval of BWM systems. This training focused on an overview of the Management of Ballast Water legislation, along with exercises based on real issues. The two-days training also provided the opportunity for a “tour to table” to exchange experience in implementing the Ballast Water Management Convention practices between participants.

The objective of this event was to promote the effective management of ballast water on board ships as well as to ensure a coherent approach for implementation and enforcement for Mediterranean riparian countries.