Govt to formulate ballast water disposal regulations

Tanzania has pledged to come out with two key takeaways to safeguard the marine environment dependent on driving the blue economy.

The country’s promise came at the closing of the three-day regional workshop on the international convention for control and management of ships’ ballast water and sediments that ended on Thursday.

The Ministry of Works and Transport, Safety and Environment Director, Ms Stella Katondo, said that after International Marine Organisation (IMO) presentations, the country has learned of the need and urgency to ratify the convention and secondly to formulate regulations for supervision and dispose of ballast water.

“This is a very important aspect as we need to have a legal mandate of ballast water disposing  for the ships docked in our ports.

“If left untouched may cause uncontrolled disposer of water from ship tanks, which may have chemicals and invasive species of organisms, to harm marine creatures used,” she said.

The conference which brought about 15 African countries along the Indian coast was organised by IMO.

She said it was agreed at the workshop for countries to ratify this convention soonest to protect the blued economic activities apart from letting marine transportation thrive.

Tanzania Shipping Agencies Corporation (TASAC), Director General, Kaimu Mkeyenge said the ratification step would grant legal organs to enforce ballast water proper management and treatment of ballast water and to significantly reduce the risks.

Mr Mkeyenge said that the country was in the course of attracting investment to reap the dividend of the blue economy, hence ensuring that the sea environment is not polluted needed rightful and quicker action.

“Currently TASAC is using friendly advice to ship owners on how to manage ballast water, but ratification of this convention will change from just advising to having a legal mandate and hence, insure the future of fish, seaweed and other creatures,” he said.

Ballast water discharges by ships can have a negative impact on the marine environment. The discharge of ballast water and sediments by ships is governed globally under the Ballast Water Management Convention, since its entry into force in September 2017.