Implementation of the Ballast Water Convention in 2025: Measures to Combat Invasive Species

In 2025, the global community is paying special attention to the active implementation of the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments (BWM Convention). This measure aims to limit the spread of invasive species through ballast water, which is becoming increasingly important due to the growth of maritime transport volumes.

The Convention, adopted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in 2004, requires all ships engaged in international trade to be equipped with ballast water treatment systems and to manage them appropriately to prevent negative impacts on marine ecosystems. The essence of the document is that ballast water must either be replaced or treated to remove and neutralize marine organisms and pathogens that can harm the ecology of receiving ports and the entire marine biodiversity.

Key Changes and Requirements for 2025

• As of February 1, 2025, amendments to the Convention come into force, which provide for a new form of Ballast Water Operations Log. Ships are now required to maintain this log in a more structured and understandable format, with detailed indications of all operations related to ballast water.
• Implementation of comprehensive measures to verify compliance with the Convention's requirements, including a concentrated inspection campaign by the authorities of the Tokyo and Paris Memoranda signatory countries to assess the existence of valid certificates, ballast water management plans, crew training, and proper record-keeping.
• The importance of ensuring that ballast water management methods do not cause greater harm to the environment, human health, and property than the threats they are meant to prevent is emphasized.

The Importance of Combating Invasive Species

Ballast water, used for stabilizing ships, serves as a channel for the movement of invasive species between ecosystems of different regions. Over the past decades, there have been cases where the invasion of such species has led to destruction in marine ecosystems, loss of biodiversity, and damage to the economy and port infrastructure.

In this regard, the BWM Convention aims to protect the global marine environment by establishing strict international standards that are mandatory for all flag states and the countries where they enter ports.

Thus, in 2025, the efforts of the international community are focused on stricter enforcement and monitoring of compliance with the ballast water convention requirements in all ports and on all ships to ensure the ecological safety of seas and oceans.