Over The Finnish Line

9 Sep 2016:  Earlier this week, Finland ratified the IMO’s Ballast Water Management Convention (BWMC), raising the percentage of world tonnage to 35.1441% and the number of ratifying countries to 52. This means that the hurdle of 30 countries representing 35% of the world’s merchant fleet has now been met and on September 8, 2017 (one year from now), the BWMC will enter into force. While the approval process for this new regime – meant to protect local ecosystems from the impacts of invasive species – took a very long time, it may still come too soon for some owners. Download Here