Context : The Tamil Nadu Water Resources Department (WRD) has informed the National Green Tribunal that it has sought ₹160 crore from the Kamarajar Port in Ennore, Tamil Nadu, to facilitate the removing of invasive Mytella strigata, or charru mussel.
What is Ballast water and how does it introduce invasive species?
- Ballast water is fresh, or saltwater held in the ballast tanks and cargo holds of ships.
- It is used to provide stability and maneuverability during a voyage when ships are not carrying cargo, not carrying heavy enough cargo, or when more stability is required due to rough seas.
- Ballast water may also be used to add weight so that a ship sinks low enough in the water to pass under bridges and other structures.
- Usually, ballast water is pumped into ballast tanks when a ship has delivered cargo to a port and is departing with less cargo or no cargo. Ballast water is then transported and released at the next port-of-call where the ship picks up more cargo. In such cases, the shipís ballast water contains a mix of waters from multiple ports.
- The release of ballast water may introduce non-native organisms into the port of discharge. These introduced species, or bioinvaders, are also referred to as exotic species, alien species, and nonindigenous species.
Are there any global regulations in this regard?
- The Ballast Water Management (BWM) Convention of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) came into force in 2017 to help prevent the spread of potentially harmful aquatic organisms and pathogens in ships’ ballast water.
- The convention applies to ships registered under contracting Parties to the BWM Convention, which take up and use ballast water during international voyages.
- According to this, the ships must manage their ballast water.
- Recently constructed ship have the ballas waster management system in which they dose the water with some chemicals in order to remove invasive species.
- The earlier ships which do not have such systems are required to exchange the ballast water they took in a port with “neutral” water from the middle of the oceans enroute to the loading port.
Note - The BWM convention does not apply to warships and hence there are no implications for the navies.
What is India’s position?
- India acceded to the BWM convention in 2015.
- as of July 2, 97 countries have signed on to the BWM as contracting states. India is not on the list of countries. This means that there is no obligation on the part of ships calling on Indian ports to enforce the BWM convention.
- In any case, ports are only a facilitator of ship traffic and cannot be held liable in such cases. If there is any evidence that a vessel has pumped out the ballast water that led to the invasive species, then the vessel owner can be held liable if a law is in force.