A new free course on ballast water management in international shipping is now available on IMO´s e-learning platform.
The course, "Introduction to Ballast Water Management and Compliance Monitoring and Control", is aimed at government personnel working in national authorities responsible for the prevention and control of pollution from ships, especially in relation to the control and management of ships´ ballast water and sediments to prevent the introduction of invasive aquatic species, and the implementation and enforcement of the Convention on Ballast Water Management (BWM Convention).
The course is open to the public, giving all interested parties from the maritime community and beyond the maritime community the opportunity to learn about IMO´s work in this area.
The course provides an overview of ballast water management and how it contributes to protecting the marine environment, the BWM Convention and its associated guidelines, the role of administrations and other stakeholders such as shipping companies and seafarers in implementing global standards, and practical information to ensure compliance.
All interested parties from the maritime community are invited to take advantage of this free, self-study course, which covers the following specific topics, with an emphasis on interactive activities:
Why is ballast water management important?
Ballast water carried on board ships to ensure their stability can carry thousands of aquatic organisms. If moved elsewhere, they can become invasive and threaten local biodiversity and resources.
The International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships´ Ballast Water and Sediments (BWM Convention) was adopted in 2004 to introduce global regulations to control the transfer of potentially invasive aquatic species. With the treaty in force since 2017, ships are obliged to manage their ballast water in accordance with its provisions.
To access the course, please visit the IMO e-learning platform.
News and image obtained: "Organización Marítima Internacional"
https://www.imo.org/es/MediaCentre/Paginas/WhatsNew-2100.aspx
