Saudi Arabia has become the latest State to become a Party to the Ballast Water Management (BWM) Convention. The treaty will enter into force on 8 September 2017 and aims to counter the threat to marine ecosystems by potentially invasive species transported in ships' ballast water. The number of contracting Parties to the BWM Convention now stands at 55, representing 53.67% of world merchant shipping tonnage.
Saudi Arabia deposited its instrument of accession with IMO on 27 April 2017.