Ballast water exemption on the agenda

The Danish Shipowners’ Association, the Danish Maritime Authority and the Danish Nature Agency, who have been working closely with Interferry, have been working hard to lobby the IMO over the legislation which they say makes good sense for international routes but not for ferry and short sea shipping.

Peter Olsen, who is head of secretariat for the Danish Car Ferry Association, and responsible for ballast water at the Shipowners’ Associations, said: “There is a risk of imposing a financial burden of several million kroner per ship without there being any demonstrated risk presented by spreading seawater from one port to a neighbouring port in the same sea.”

He is of the view that Danish shipping companies have invested billions of kroner in green technology over the years and are willing to go further, but not if the regulation doesn’t benefit the environment as the investment becomes meaningless.

In its present state, the convention will cover all international shipping, including the 4km long ferry route between Helsingør in Denmark and Helsingborg in Sweden.

Although the new convention allows for exemptions, the view from Danish shipping companies is that they are impractical and the conditions are too restrictive for local shipping.

The new ballast water convention is expected to receive the required support this year, enabling it to enter into force in 12 months time.