EMEA News
Turkey Signs Ballast Water Management Convention, Nears 35% Threshold
The UN International Maritime Organization (IMO) this month announced that Turkey has acceded to the Ballast Water Management (BWM) Convention.
Turkey's accession brings the total number of signatory countries to 43 and means the convention represents 32.54 percent of the world's merchant shipping tonnage.
In order for the Convention to become enforceable it must gain signatures from 35 percent of global tonnage, and Turkey's decision means this threshold is close to being reached.
Turkey's instrument of accession was presented by Turkey's Permanent Representative to the IMO, Abdurrahman Bilgiç to IMO Secretary General Sekimizu at the recent Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) meeting.
The International Chamber of Shipping said earlier this month that BWM rules need amendment.
