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As shipping is probably the most international
industry, the only effective way to address shipping related issues
is through a standardised international system. This has been one
of the hallmarks of the success of IMO in its more than 50 year
history. The avoidance of unilateral responses by individual states
is critical to the success of any regulatory regime that applies
to shipping.
As described under the section on The International Response, IMO
member States adopted the new ballast water Convention
in February 2004. As an IMO activity, GloBallast is promoting the
adoption of the standardised IMO legal regime throughout all of
its activities. One of these activities has been a
Legislative Review
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Despite the significant efforts being expended
by IMO member countries to develop an international legal instrument,
many countries and even sub-national jurisdictions have unilaterally
developed or are developing national or local legislation. These
include Australia, Canada, Chile, Israel, New Zealand, the USA,
various individual States within the USA and various individual
ports around the world, such as Buenos Aires in Argentina, Scapa
Flow in Scotland and Vancouver in Canada.
Many of these unilateral responses remain generally consistent with
current IMO Guidelines, while others
impose new and different requirements on shipping. Such developments
are of major concern to the shipping industry, which must operate
across many jurisdictions and which may be impacted severely when
the rules change from port to port. In order to keep its members
and others informed of legislative developments, the International
Association of Independent Tanker Owners (INTERTANKO) has developed
national legislation profiles, posted on its web site.
http://www.intertanko.com/tankerfacts/environmental/ballast/ballastreq.htm
- INTERTANKO National Legislation Profiles.
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