Download PERSGA Regional Strategic Action Plan English May 25 2014

The Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Regional Strategic Action Plan
for the Control of Transfer of Harmful Aquatic Organisms and
Pathogens (HAOP) in Ships` Ballast Water
Draft June 2014
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PERSGA VISION of THE REGIONAL BALLAST WATER
MANAGEMENT STRATEGY
The vision of the Regional Organization for the Conservation of the Environment of the Red Sea and
Gulf of Aden (PERSGA) is to develop a Regional Strategic Action Plan for Controlling the Transfer
of Harmful Aquatic Organisms and Pathogens in Ships` Ballast Water. The Regional Strategic Action
Plan is to be achieved in collaboration with IMO GloBallast Partnership Project and through:
• Strengthening the capacities of the Member States in the PERSGA region targeting the prevention
of transfer of harmful organisms in ships’ ballast water and sediments, ensuring effective
implementation of and compliance with relevant international regulatory framework.
• Developing regional cooperation in the field of Ballast Water Management among the coastal States
of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden in control of and responding to harmful species invasion
incidents
• Providing Technical Assistance to the Member States in development of their national capacities
for response to marine pollution incidents and facilitating information exchange, technological
cooperation and training; and
• Providing a framework for exchange of information on operational, technical, scientific, legal and
financial matters, and promoting dialogue aiming at conducting coordinated actions at national,
regional and global levels.
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Table of Contents
Abbreviations .......................................................................................................................................3
1. Introduction and Background ........................................................................................................3
2. General Objectives of the Regional Strategic Action Plan ...........................................................4
3. Specific Objectives of the Regional Strategic Action plan ...........................................................4
4. Description of the Region ................................................................................................................5
4.1 General ........................................................................................................................................5
4.2 Existing Cooperation Schemes for the Protection of Marine Environment .........................6
5. Principal Actions ..............................................................................................................................6
5.1 Legislative Review for Ballast Water Management Compliance and Ratifications of
the BWM convention .......................................................................................................................6
5.2 Adopt a harmonized Ballast water management instrument in the Red Sea and Gulf
of Aden Region .................................................................................................................................7
5.3 Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement (CME) .................................................................7
5.4 Port Biota Baseline Surveys (PBBS) .........................................................................................8
5.5 Risk Assessment .........................................................................................................................9
5.6 Training & Capacity building .................................................................................................10
5.7 Regional and Inter – Regional Cooperation ..........................................................................10
5.8 National Action Plans ..............................................................................................................11
5.9 Institutional Component..........................................................................................................11
5.10 Communications and Public Awareness-raising Component ............................................12
6. Resources and Financing ...............................................................................................................13
7. Implementation the Strategic Action Plan ...................................................................................13
Annex I: Work Plan ............................................................................................................................. I
Annex II: Harmonized voluntary instrument for ballast water Management in the Red Sea
and Gulf of Aden
I
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Abbreviations:
BWM:
CBD:
CFP:
CHM:
CME:
FAO:
GEF:
HAOP:
IAS:
IMO:
IOI:
IUCN:
LPIA:
NFP:
NTF:
PBBS:
PCU:
PERSGA:
REMPEC:
ROPME:
RTF:
SAP:
UNCLOS:
UNDP:
Ballast Water Management
Convention for Biological Diversity
Country’s Focal Point
Clearing House Mechanism
Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Global Environment Facility
Harmful Aquatic Organisms and Pathogens
Invasive Aquatic Species
International Maritime Organization
International Ocean Institute
International Union for Conservation of Nature
Legal, Policy, and Institutional aspects
National Focal Points
National Task Force
Port Biota Baseline Survey
Program Coordinating Unit
The Regional Organization for the Conservation of the Environment of the Red Sea
and Gulf Of Aden
The Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Response Centre for the Mediterranean Sea
Regional Organization for the Protection of the Marine Environment
Regional Task Force
Strategic Action Plan
The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea
United Nations Development Programme
1. Introduction and Background
The Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Region is an active part of the world economy, in which shipping plays
an important role. Shipping carries more than 90% of the world’s commodities and is essential to the
global economy. For so many years ships have been using ballast water to keep their balance, stability
and structural integrity. Ballast water is essential for the safety of ships, especially for those unloaded
ships. It is estimated that 3-5 billion tons of Ballast Water is transferred by ships globally each year,
and some 7000 species are being carried by ships at any given time1
The issue of aquatic invasive species, including the transfer of Harmful Aquatic Organisms and
Pathogens (HAOP) in ships’ ballast water and sediments, is one of the greatest threats to global marine
bio-diversity and ecosystems, and also a significant threat to coastal economies and even public
health. Global economic impacts from Invasive Aquatic Species (IAS), including through disruption
to fisheries, fouling of coastal industry and infrastructure and interference with human amenity, are
estimated to exceed tens of billions of dollars per year. The impacts are set to increase in coming years
with a three-fold increase in shipping activity predicted in the next decade. Countries in the PERSGA
region are at particular risk as globalization of the world economy continues and new markets, ports
and shipping routes are continuously opening in the region. Several ports in the region export bulk
commodities and oil and in return receive large amount of ballast water, thus potentially receiving
1
The GEF-UNDP-IMO Globallast Programme publications (globallast.imo.org)
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harmful invasive organisms into the ecosystem. The implications of this issue on marine environment
and biodiversity in the region as well as on human health are therefore significantly important. Once
invasive marine species are established, their eradication or control is virtually impossible.
Consequences of invasions include
Ecosystem changes: The original species composition and/or ecological processes may be affected by
the invading species.
Economic impacts: Fisheries, tourism, coastal industry and other commercial activities and resources
may be disrupted by the invading species resulting in loss of revenue and/or high treatment costs.
Public health impacts: People may suffer illness or even die from consumption of, or direct exposure
to toxic organisms, diseases and pathogens introduced through ballast water.
In response to the aquatic threat, IMO member States have recently adopted the International
Convention for Ballast Water Management (BWM Convention), which provides a new international
legal regime to address this threat. In its article 13, the Convention requires Parties with common
interests to protect the environment, human health, property and resources in a given geographical area
and to provide technical assistance to train personnel, to initiate joint research and development
programs and undertake action aimed at the effective implementation of the instrument. Strengthening
national and regional capacity and fostering regional co-operation for the effective implementation of
this convention is critical for successfully managing the issue of invasive species in the region. A set
of such measures in a form of a Regional Strategic Action Plan can be considered and endorsed by the
member Governments.
2. General Objectives of the Regional Strategic Action Plan
The overall objectives of this regional Strategic Action Plan are:



To provide a regional framework for the activities that need to be developed and implemented
within the PERSGA region in order to minimize the transfer of (HAOP) in ships’ ballast water,
in accordance with the IMO Ballast Water Management Convention;
To enhance regional cooperation in protection of the marine environment through the existing
regional bodies; and
To facilitate the ratification and implementation of the IMO International Ballast Water
Management Convention, by the contracting parties to the Jeddah convention within the
Region.
3. Specific Objectives of the Regional Strategic Action plan
1.
Ensure effective coordination and support of the ballast water related activities through the
establishment of the necessary institutional framework.
2.
Increase knowledge of the risks associated with the transfer of (IAS) from one place to another
and build capacity to address ballast water management matters at regional and national level.
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3.
Facilitate the necessary regional coordination and co-operation required for development of
national level legal, policy, planning and institutional arrangements to address the issue of
ballast water.
4.
Develop and implement compliance and monitoring programs to ensure successful
implementation of the international regime regarding the transfer of IAS in ships’ ballast
water.
5.
Encourage regional and inter-regional co-operation and exchange of information to ensure
consistent implementation of the standardized regime for ballast water management and
control.
6.
Identify opportunities for financing of ballast water related activities to secure sustainable
implementation of the international requirement and protection of the coastal and marine
resources at regional level.
4. Description of the Region
4.1General
This Strategic Action Plan is concerned with the PERSGA region as identified in the Jeddah
Convention (1982) which includes the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, the Gulf of Suez including the Suez
Canal and the Gulf of Aqaba.
Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Sea Area means the Region which includes the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aqaba,
the Gulf of Suez, the Suez Canal to its connection with the Mediterranean and the Gulf of Aden as
bounded by the following rhomb-lines:
From Ras Dharbat Ali (Lat.16º 39’ N, Long.53º 03.5’E).
thence to a point (Lat.16º 00’ N, Long.53º 25’ E).
thence to a point (Lat.12º 40’ N, Long.55º 00’ E) lying E.N.E. of Socotra Island,
thence to Ras Hafun (Lat. 10º 26’ N, Long. 51º 25’ E);
PERSGA Member States include Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.
The Waters of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden constitute a unique ecosystem with high biological
diversity. In particular, they host an extensive system of coral reefs. Surrounded by arid terrestrial
environments, the reefs support rich biological communities and representatives of several endangered
species. There are also mangroves, sea grass beds, salt marshes and salt pans in the region. Fishing and
continuously growing tourism industry are of highly significant importance to the economy of the
region. In the year 2012 it was estimated that the total World Fisheries Production is 158 million tons
(captured 91.3 million tons) & aquaculture (66.6 million tons).2
The region forms an important transport route between Europe and the Far East, particularly for the
carriage of oil and commodities. Approximately 12 to 13% of the world’s seaborne oil is transported
2
FAO (2014) The State of World Fisheries and Acquaculture, opportunities and challenges.
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through the region, with extremely high densities of shipping transiting the region to enter / exit the
Suez Canal. There are several major oil terminals within the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden itself, where
significant quantities of ballast are discharged. Coastal and marine ecosystems in the region could be
highly stressed by chronic oil pollution from transit shipping. No assessment of IAS has been done,
although the enclosed geography, high shipping intensities may make the issue an important one.
Globalization of the economy has brought great changes to the shipping in the Region. Ships are
becoming bigger and faster, which means that more ballast water is carried by ships from and to the
countries. Environmental concerns are trans-boundary. Any environmental problem within any part of
the region, because of its semi-enclosed nature, can no longer be considered an isolated or localized
incident, but a matter with potentially far-reaching ecological and socioeconomic implications.
All seven countries are member states to IMO and parties to the Jeddah convention and have the
common interest in protection of the marine environment. They all have shown great concern on the
threats of the human activity to the world ocean, particularly the biological invasion through shipping
activities.
4.2 Existing Cooperation Schemes for the Protection of Marine Environment
The main Regional cooperation scheme for the protection of Marine Environment is the Jeddah
Convention and its Protocols to which most of the coastal states of the Red sea and Gulf of Aden
region are contracting parties. All articles of this regional Strategic action plan are consistent with the
objectives of the Convention.
In addition the present draft Regional Strategic Action Plan is consistent with the objectives of all
International Conventions which PERSGA member states have Ratified, namely the United Nations
Convention for the Laws of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the Convention for Biological Diversity (CBD).
5. Principal Actions
The principal actions outlined in this Strategic Action Plan are structured to initiate and help support
ballast water management measures throughout the region in a manner that is sustainable and
consistent with international regime.
5.1 Legislative Review for Ballast Water Management Compliance and
Ratification of the BWM Convention
In addition to the Jeddah Convention itself, a new legally binding International Convention for Ballast
Water Management has been adopted by consensus. The Ballast Water Management (BWM)
convention did not yet enter into force as there are Currently 41 countries owning 30.25% of the world
tonnage3 have ratified the convention. Given the nature and topography of the Red Sea and Gulf of
Aden Region, which makes the application of the Ballast water exchange standard D-1 according to
the IMO convention very difficult, it is crucial that the BWM convention enters into force. Only then
will the Ballast water treatment standard D-2 become mandatory which will facilitate a more practical
measure for controlling the introduction of IAS into the marine environment of the region.
3
The condition for entry into force of the BWM convention is Ratification by 30 countries owning 35% of the world tonnage.
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Member States to the Jeddah Convention are encouraged to ratify the Convention as early as possible
as this measure could accelerate the entry into force of the convention and accelerate the application of
the D2 Ballast water treatment standard onboard ships.
In order to facilitate ratifying the BWM convention it is suggested that member states to the Jeddah
convention carry out a Legislative Review on existing national policies and laws related to the
management of IAS under other conventions4 as well as taking national policy initiatives preparing the
ground and leading to the ratification of the BWM convention
PERSGA shall also provide Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Coastal States, which so request, with advice
and technical assistance in this respect.
The Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Coastal States, Contracting Parties to the Jeddah Convention, agree:
a) To ratify Ballast Water Management Convention as soon as reasonably practical, to ensure its
manifestation into national laws, and to cooperate through PERSGA to ensure full compliance
with its provisions;
b) To use and adapt the existing administrative infrastructure adopted for relevant international
conventions to ensure compliance and enforcement of Ballast Water Management activities;
and
c) To request the Secretariat to provide Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Coastal States, which so
request, with advice and technical assistance in order to carry out the activities set forth in subparagraph (a) and (b) above.
5.2 Adopt a Voluntary Harmonized Ballast Water Management Instrument in the
Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Region
Member states to the Jeddah convention are encouraged to adopt as early as possible harmonized
arrangements in the region based on the requirements of the BWM convention. These arrangements
will be applied by ships on a voluntary basis until the BWM convention enters into force, only then
will those arrangements become mandatory.
The proposed Harmonized Ballast water management instrument is attached in Annex II.
The Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Coastal States, Contracting Parties to the Jeddah Convention, agree:
a) To adopt as soon as possible the harmonized ballast water management instrument suggested
in Annex II; and
b) To notify the IMO of the adoption of this instrument as soon as it is adopted.
5.3 Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement (CME)
In the perspective of the adoption of the Ballast Water Management Convention by Regional states as
well as the probable adoption of the Voluntary Harmonized Ballast Water Management Instrument, a
4
All PERSGA member states have ratified the UNCLOS and the CBD,
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Regional CME System needs to be developed at the Regional level to ensure compliance with the
provisions of the Ballast water Management convention.
To ensure that CME measures developed under that System are effective it is essential to ascertain
whether a vessel has met the requirements, to obtain relevant information about the BWM of the
respective vessel and to have the ability to ensure that the vessel complies with the established
requirements. The CME system should cover inter alia the following Key elements:
1. Requirement for ships to collect and record information about their BWM practices (i.e.
uptake, management en route and discharge);
2. Means for ships to transmit this information to the Port States BWM regulatory authority and
receive directions from them;
3. Provision for examination/auditing of the ships, official log books or other official records to
ascertain compliance with the BWM requirements of the Port State;
4. Ability by the appropriate authority to take ballast water and sediment samples and carry out
any necessary measurements;
5. Legal provision for “enforcement”, where necessary, for non-compliance with the required
BWM requirements and provisions for applying sanctions to violations;
6. Requirement for notification of arrangements to IMO; and
7. Effective communication arrangements on a regional level to ensure proper tracking of
violations and exchange of experience during the application of the CME system on a national
level.
The Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Coastal States, Contracting Parties to the Jeddah Convention, agree:
a) To develop a regionally harmonized CME system in which incorporates the Key elements
mentioned above as a minimum, and to include the various elements of this System in their
national laws; and
b) To request the Secretariat to provide Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Coastal States, which so
request, with advice and technical assistance in order to develop the CME system mentioned in
sub-paragraph (a) above.
5.4 Port Biota Baseline Surveys (PBBS)
Port baseline surveys are considered vital for assessing existing natural conditions and the presence or
absence of introduced marine species. Such surveys should be conducted in accordance with
internationally adopted protocol / guidelines such as the protocol used by GloBallast (CRIMP
Protocol) and should be conducted on an on-going basis, as a long-term biological monitoring
program for each port. This will allow any existing introductions to be tracked and managed, and any
new introductions to be detected and responded to.
Currently it is evident that conducting Baseline Surveys by some member countries in the Region
cannot be carried out without some form of capacity building, which should be given first priority
before carrying out the actual activities of Baseline Surveys.
The Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Coastal States, Contracting Parties to the Jeddah Convention, agree:
a) To Establish a Regional Scientific Committee to advise on appropriate PBBS activities as
related to ongoing BWM initiatives within the region;
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b) To Develop and carry out regional activities to include further PBBS training and capacity
building (workshops, equipment, taxonomy etc.) as well as pilot survey projects; and
c) To Engage with appropriate international and regional organizations (e.g. IOI, IUCN) for
potential technical assistance and support.
Having achieved the necessary level of competence required to carry out PBBS;
The Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Coastal States, Contracting Parties to the Jeddah Convention, agree:
a) That Each country completes sample identification, analysis and reporting as soon as
reasonably practical;
b) Ideally, each country to build on the baselines and wherever possible to implement on-going,
long-term monitoring programs, for all ports in their jurisdiction;
c) Each country to ensure that survey results are fed into national, regional and global databases,
linked to communication and reporting systems that allow shipping to be alerted to outbreaks;
and
d) To request the Secretariat to provide Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Coastal States, which so
request, with advice and technical assistance in order to carry out all the PBBS related
activities mentioned above.
5.5 Risk Assessment
Risk assessment is a fundamental starting point for any country contemplating implementing a formal
system to manage the transfer and introduction of harmful aquatic organisms and pathogens in ships’
Ballast Water, as each country needs to know the level and types of risks of introductions that its ports
may face, as well as the most sensitive resources and values that might be threatened.
Risk assessment could also facilitate the process of CME by identifying “High Risk” vessels and
“High Risk” ports of origin which could narrow down the process of inspecting ships and applying
CME Measures on them.
Risk assessment is also an important tool, as recommended by IMO when designating Ballast water
exchange areas5, and when granting exemptions to ships with regards to Ballast water management
requirements.
The Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Coastal States, Contracting Parties to the Jeddah Convention, agree:
a) That a Regional level risk assessment should be carried out based on the information available
through PBBS as well as studies of Vessels’ sizes (In terms of Ballast water capacities) and
movements in the region; and
b) To request the Secretariat to co-ordinate with IMO Globallast and offer technical assistance in
carrying out the regional risk assessment mentioned in sub-paragraph (a) above.
5
RESOLUTION MEPC.151(55) - Adopted on 13 October 2006 - GUIDELINES ON DESIGNATION OF AREAS FOR
BALLAST WATER EXCHANGE (G14)
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5.6 Training & Capacity building
A pre-requisite for any successful program on ballast water management is bringing all stakeholders to
a common platform in terms of developing the preliminary skill-base to deal with ballast water
management matters and bio-invasion in general so that the issues can be discussed among the various
stakeholders in the country and in the region.
A regional introductory training course on ballast water management, using the GloBallast training
package, has been delivered in the region, providing an excellent first step and foundation for all
further activities in ballast water management.
In addition to this introductory course, more specialized training activities should be developed in
collaboration with recognized training institutions within the region, and delivered to respective target
groups. These training activities should cover inter alia the following subjects:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Risk Assessment
Port Biota Baseline Surveys (PBBS)
Legal, Policy, and Institutional Aspects (LPIA)
Compliance, Monitoring and Enforcement (CME)
It is considered that the necessary sustainability in the field of training at national level can be
achieved through the creation of a small number of qualified trainers in each country who could in
turn continue to provide the required training to their co-nationals. The creation of such group would
be achieved by conducting training activities on a regional level with a “train-the-trainers” approach
to ensure that capacity is built for further training efforts, after which each country will replicate the
training programs at the national level.
The Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Coastal States, Contracting Parties to the Jeddah Convention, agree:
a) To carry out an assessment of their training needs in different aspects related to Ballast water
Management activities, identifying target groups within their administrative structure requiring
such training, and nominating target personnel who should be receiving regional training with
the “train the trainer” approach;
b) To request the Secretariat to improve the knowledge and expertise of the Target groups
identified as per paragraph (a) above by establishing a regional program of training activities;
and
c) To establish national training programs on Ballast water Management related activities,
replicating the regional training program as per paragraph (b) above.
5.7 Regional and Inter – Regional Cooperation
A key objective of this activity is to achieve regional coordination and harmony in implementation of
the Ballast Water Management Strategies in line with the BWM Convention. Regional cooperation is
also necessary to disseminate the lessons learned from the national level activities at regional level.
The Creation of an effective and active Regional Task Force (RTF), headed by PERSGA, will help to
facilitate this process as the RTF will be instrumental in efforts to replicate program results beyond the
region at continental and global level.
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In addition, Communication and alignment with neighboring regions and their BWM structures (e.g.
Mediterranean and ROPME Strategies for BWM) is needed to ensure consistency between the
regimes, and also to promote sharing of information between these interlinked marine regions.
The Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Coastal States, Contracting Parties to the Jeddah Convention, agree:
a) That all Red Sea and Gulf of Aden countries (which have not already done so) establish
competent agencies and nominate Country Focal Points (CFPs) to form the Regional Task
Force responsible for ballast water related activities; and
b) To request PERSGA to open communication channels with neighboring regional organizations
such as REMPEC and ROPME to promote sharing of information and knowledge regarding
BWM related activities and initiatives taken in those regions.
5.8 National Action Plans
One of the primary steps in achieving the proposed objectives of the Strategic Action Plan will be the
creation of National Task Forces (NTF) including all the main stakeholders with an interest in ballast
water management. The NTF in each of the participating countries will develop their National Action
Plan for ballast water management that will support, and generally follow, the activities outlined in
this Strategic Action Plan.
The Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Coastal States, Contracting Parties to the Jeddah Convention, agree:
a) That all Red Sea and Gulf of Aden countries (which have not already done so) establish a
National Task Force responsible for the development and support of Ballast water management
activities on a national level; and
b) That all Red Sea and Gulf of Aden countries (which have not already done so) develop
National Action Plans to implement the activities outlined in the Regional Strategic Action
Plan.
5.9 Institutional Component
The Jeddah Convention may provide appropriate legal framework to channel the efforts at the Red Sea
and Gulf of Aden level.
In order to strengthen the Institutional Capacity of the Regional Organization for the Conservation of
the Environment of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden – PERSGA, a Program Coordination Unit (PCU)
within PERSGA should be established. The PCU will strengthen the capacity of PERSGA in
coordinating and implementing the work program, and ensure co-operation with other environmental
and development programs in the Region.
The Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Coastal States, Contracting Parties to the Jeddah Convention, agree to
Request the Secretariat to Establish a Program Coordination Unit (PCU) within PERSGA, In
accordance with PERSGA administrative structure.
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5.10 Communications and Public Awareness Raising Component
Although some regional awareness raising efforts have been made through the PERSGA activities,
information about the danger of transfers of harmful aquatic organisms and pathogens through
uncontrolled discharge of ballast water is not well known at the regional level. This lack of
information and generally low level of awareness of the ballast water issue is seen as an extremely
important, early priority.
With a view to promoting the Contracting Parties’ national programs for raising the awareness of the
general public and target groups, including decision-makers, about the risks associated with
introducing non-indigenous marine species into the Region, it is recommended that Public awareness
materials already prepared by IMO GloBallast and available for download from its website6 such as
brochures, posters and other educational and awareness materials are to be downloaded, translated to
Arabic language and made available to the National Focal Points for them to circulate in their
respective countries.
To facilitate information exchange related to Ballast Water Management issues among the contracting
parties, an information exchange network is considered necessary for the region. This network will
facilitate communications with and between countries, as well as function as a clearing house
mechanism (CHM) for data and ballast water management related information within the region. The
CHM should be web based to facilitate the access to and update of information and should include the
following modules:
1. Risk assessment
a. Risk assessment of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Ports
b. Risk assessment methodologies, guidelines
c. The results of risk assessment studies done by other countries
d. Target invasive species
2. Ballast Water Reporting Form
a. Ballast water reporting form system
b. Statistical results of ballast water discharges
3. Invasive species Database
a. Searching by name and habitat
4. Scientists database
5. Legal Instruments
a. Ballast water convention
b. IMO and Other Guidelines
c. National legal instruments
6. National Competent Authorities
a. GloBallast Partnership focal points
b. Maritime Authorities
c. Environmental Authorities
d. Scientific Institutes
7. Ship routes
8. Awareness Raising tools
9. Port biological baseline surveys
a. Port biological baseline survey guideline
b. PBBS Workshop presentations
6
http://globallast.imo.org/index.asp?page=AwarenessMaterials.htm&menu=true
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c. PBBS Studies in other countries
The Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Coastal States, Contracting Parties to the Jeddah Convention, agree:
a) That IMO GloBallast Public awareness materials, particularly those in Arabic be downloaded
and provided for NFP for circulation;
b) That countries which have not already done so endeavor to carry out national level seminars to
raise awareness of the issue among various stakeholders;
c) To establish a web based CHM as soon as possible composed of the elements mentioned
above; and
d) To request the Secretariat to provide Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Coastal States, which so
request, with advice and technical assistance in order to carry out the activities mentioned in
sub-paragraphs (a) and (c) above.
6. Resources and Financing
In addition to budgetary resources provided through multilateral and bilateral donors a vital objective
of this Strategic Action Plan is to identify and secure opportunities for self-financing of the ballast
water related activities beyond the external intervention.
Recognizing that the development of self-financing mechanisms will largely be handled at the national
level, the Regional Task Force shall aid the review of opportunities for self-financing of the activities
related to ballast water management to the extent possible
There are various possibilities for financing the Ballast water related activities by the State .These
include inter alia:





State budget;
Partnerships with international institutions;
Partnerships with other States;
Partnerships with private sector, including in particular the shipping industry; and
Specific national funds financed through targeted taxation of certain commercial activities,
and/or through accumulation of fines imposed on offenders of applicable rules and regulations.
The RTF will evaluate any opportunities for ongoing resource mobilization, collaborations or cofinancing in order to help sustain ballast water management activities in the long-term.
7. Implementation the Strategic Action Plan
The RTF will be responsible for overseeing the implementation of the SAP. The RTF should include
National Focal Points (NFP). The NFP will be supported by National Task Forces consisting of
representatives of the Maritime Administration, Environmental Authorities, the scientific community
and industry. It is recommended that a contacts’ directory (e-mail, telephone, fax, etc.) is maintained
for communication between RTF members.
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The RTF should meet every year, or whenever necessary, to review the implementation of the
National and Regional Action Plans and make recommendations and decisions on relevant matters.
The shipping industry (including ports of the region) should be made fully aware of the issue and
involved in the SAP activities.
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Annex I: Work Plan
Specific Objective
Activities
a.
1.
2.
3.
Legislative
Review
for
Ballast Water Management
Compliance and Ratifications
of the BWM convention:
b.
Adopt a harmonized Ballast
water management regime in
the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden
Region:
a.
b.
notifying IMO of the adoption of the harmonized ballast
water regime as soon as it is adopted
Compliance Monitoring and
Enforcement (CME)
a.
developing a regionally harmonized CME system and
including its various elements in their national laws
Establish a Regional Scientific Committee to advise on
appropriate PBBS activities as related to ongoing BWM
initiatives within the region
Develop and carry out regional / National activities to
include further PBBS training and capacity building
(workshops, equipment, taxonomy etc.) as well as pilot
survey projects; and
a.
b.
4.
Ratification of the Ballast Water Management Convention,
ensuring its manifestation into national laws, and cooperating
through PERSGA to ensure full compliance with its
provisions.
using and adapting the existing administrative infrastructure
adopted for relevant international conventions outlined in
Annex II to ensure compliance and enforcement of Ballast
Water Management activities
Adopting the Voluntary Harmonized Ballast Water Regime
attached in Annex II
c.
Engage with appropriate international and regional
organizations for potential technical assistance and support.
d.
Each country completes sample identification, analysis and
reporting
each country to build on the baselines and wherever possible
to implement on-going, long-term monitoring programmes,
for all ports in their jurisdiction;
Port Biota Baseline Surveys
(PBBS):
e.
f.
Each country to ensure that survey results are fed into
national, regional and global databases, linked to
communication and reporting systems that allow shipping to
be alerted to outbreaks
Year
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
P a g e | II
Specific Objective
Activities
a.
5.
6.
Risk Assessment
Training
Building
and
Capacity
a.
b.
c.
a.
7.
Regional and Inter-regional
Co-operation
8.
National Action Plans
9.
Institutional Component
b.
a.
b.
a.
a.
10. Communications and Public
Awareness
b.
c.
A Regional level risk assessment to be carried out based on
the information available through PBBS as well as studies of
Vessels’ sizes (In terms of Ballast water capacities) and
movements in the region
Assessment of Training needs and identifying target groups
Establishing a regional training Program Covering identified
training needs for Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Countries.
Establishing and running national training programs on
Ballast water related activities
Identification of Competent agencies and nomination of
countries’ Focal Points (CFP)
Establishment of communication channels between PERSGA
and neighboring regional organizations such as REMPEC
and ROPME to promote sharing of information and
knowledge regarding BWM related activities and initiatives
taken in those regions.
Establishment of a National Task Force
Development of National Action Plans for Ballast Water
Management
Establishing a PCU Within PERSGA for co-coordinating the
SAP activities
IMO Globallast Public awareness materials to be
downloaded, translated to local languages and provided for
NFP for circulation
Carrying out national level seminars to raise awareness of the
issue among various stakeholders
Establishing a web based CHM
Year
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
Page |I
Annex II
Voluntary Harmonized Instrument for Ballast Water Management in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden
Introduction:
The voluntary harmonized instrument is being submitted under paragraph 3 of Article 13 of the
Ballast Water Management Convention whereby Parties with common interest to protect the
environment, human health, property and resources, particularly those bordering enclosed or semienclosed seas, shall endeavor to enhance regional cooperation, including through the conclusion of
regional agreements consistent with the Convention.
The proposed instrument is based on the requirements of the Ballast Water Management Convention
and is being proposed as an interim instrument. The instrument is voluntary; therefore, ships entering
the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Sea area are encouraged to apply these guidelines on a voluntary
basis.
This instrument will no longer apply when a ship meets the ballast water performance standard
contained in regulation D-2 of the Convention, or when the Convention comes into force and a ship
has to apply the D-2 standard.
Definitions:
Convention means the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast
Water and Sediments; and is hereunder referred to as “Ballast Water Management Convention”;
Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Sea Area means the Region which includes the Red Sea, the Gulf of
Aqaba, the Gulf of Suez, the Suez Canal to its connection with the Mediterranean and the Gulf of
Aden as bounded by the following rhomb-lines:
From Ras Dharbat Ali (Lat.16º 39’ N, Long.53º 03.5’E).
thence to a point (Lat.16º 00’ N, Long.53º 25’ E).
thence to a point (Lat.12º 40’ N, Long.55º 00’ E) lying E.N.E. of Socotra Island,
thence to Ras Hafun (Lat. 10º 26’ N, Long. 51º 25’ E);
Harmonized Ballast Water Regime:
1. Ships entering the waters of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Sea area, should take every possible
effort to:
(a) Undertake ballast water exchange before entering the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Sea area,
according to the standard set out in the D-1 Standard of the Ballast Water Management
Convention, and at least 200 nautical miles from the nearest land and in waters at least 200
meters in depth7;
(b) In situations where this is not possible, either due to deviating the ship from its intended
voyage or delaying the ship, or for safety reasons, such exchange should be undertaken as
applicable, according to the standard set out in the D-1 Standard of the Ballast Water
7
These geographical parameters are those set by Regulation B-4.1.1 of the Ballast Water Management Convention.
P a g e | II
Management Convention, as far from the nearest land as possible, and in all cases in waters at
least 50 nautical miles from the nearest land and in waters of at least 200 meters depth8.
The above conditions set in subparagraph (a) and (b) apply in both cases where the destination port is
in the Red sea and Gulf of Aden Sea area, or in case the ship will only be transiting the Red sea and
Gulf of Aden sea area.
2. The release of sediments during the cleaning or repairing operations of ballast tanks should take
place in sediment reception facilities in ports and terminals, according to Article 5 of the Ballast
Water Management Convention, and discharge of such sediments into the water shall be prohibited
while the ship is sailing in the Red sea and Gulf of Aden Sea area.
3. Exemptions can be granted to a ship on a voyage between specified ports or locations within the
Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Sea area, or to a ship operating exclusively between specified ports or
locations within the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Sea area. These exemptions are to be granted
according to Regulation A-4 1 of the Ballast Water Management Convention and based on the
Guidelines for risk assessment under regulation A-4 of the BWM Convention developed by the
International Maritime Organization9.
4. As per Regulation B-4 of the Ballast Water Management Convention, if the safety or stability of
the ship is threatened by a ballast water exchange operation, this operation should not be undertaken.
The reasons should be entered in the ballast water record book and a Report should be submitted to
the maritime authorities of the Port of destination.
5. Each vessel calling at a port within the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Sea area is required to have on
board a Ballast Water Management Plan complying with requirements of the Guidelines for Ballast
Water Management and Development of Ballast water Management Plans developed by the
International Maritime Organization10 and to keep a record of all ballast water operations carried out.
8
These geographical parameters are those set by Regulation B-4.1.2 of the Ballast Water Management Convention.
Guidelines for Risk Assessment under Regulation A-4 of the BWM Convention (G7), adopted on 13 July 2007. Resolution
MEPC.162(56)
10
Guidelines for Ballast Water Management and Development of Ballast Water Management Plans (G4), adopted on 22 July 2005.
Resolution MEPC.127 (53).
9