Entry into force of the Ballast Water Management (BWM) Convention 2004 nears reality; Japan’s accession to the Ballast Water Management (BWM) Convention 2004   brings the number of Contracting States to 42 countries, representing 32.02% 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.

Mr. Noriyoshi Yamagami, Minister, Alternate Permanent Representative of Japan to IMO (pictured, right, with IMO Sec-Gen Sekimizu), and Mr. Yasu Onishi, Alternate Permanent Representative of Japan to IMO, deposited Japan’s instrument of accession to the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments, 2004.

IMO Secretary-General Sekimizu said Japan’s accession was an important milestone, bringing the convention significantly closer to meeting its entry-into-force requirements. He hoped it would trigger further ratifications, enabling the convention to enter into force soon.