Turkey today (14 October) ratified the Ballast Water Management (BWM) Convention 2004, bringing the number of Contracting States to 43 countries, representing approximately 32.54% of world merchant shipping tonnage. 35% of global tonnage will trigger entry into force of the Convention, which addresses the problem of invasive species being transported around the world in ships’ ballast water.
Turkey’s instrument of accession was presented by His Excellency Mr. Abdurrahman Bilgiç, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Permanent Representative of Turkey to IMO, to IMO Secretary-General Sekimizu during the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 67) session.