New Delhi: The union cabinet on Wednesday cleared a bill which requires merchant ships to get a plan to manage their "ballast water and sediments" in line with an international convention to protect environment and human health from these substances.
The Merchant Shipping (Amendment) Bill, 2015, which is in line with the global convention was cleared in a meeting of cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The cabinet also approved accession to the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments, 2004 (Ballast Water Management Convention) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
Ships fill their ballast tanks with water to stabilize vessels at sea for maintaining safe operating conditions throughout a voyage. This water reduces stress on the hull, provides transverse stability, improves propulsion and manoeuverability and compensates for weight.
However, ballast water poses serious ecological, economic and health problems due to the multitude of marine species being carried in the process, including Harmful Aquatic Organisms and Pathogens (HAOP).
The convention requires all new ships to implement an approved ballast water and sediments management plan and carry a ballast water record book and follow ballast water management procedures to a given standard.
Existing ships will be required to do the same but after a phase-in period. Ships are required to be surveyed and certified and may also be inspected by Port State Control officers who can verify that the ship has a valid certificate. They can also inspect the record book and, in some situations, sample the ballast water.
The Merchant Shipping Amendment Bill, 2015 incorporates into the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958 the enabling provisions required for implementing the Convention.
An official statement said Indian ships of 400 Gross Tonnage (GT) and above on international voyages are required to possess an International Ballast Water Management Certificate.
Indian ships below 400 GT plying within the territorial waters of India shall be issued an Indian Ballast Water Management Certificate.
Ships which are not designed to carry ballast water, warships, naval auxiliary or other government-owned non-commercial ships are, however, exempted.
Port authorities will be statutorily obliged to provide ballast water sediment reception facilities, the statement added.
The proposed bill also provides for penalty on violation or non-compliance of the provisions. There are no financial implications to the government as ports will charge ships for the use of such facilities.
