Invasive treaty

An important international treaty, which helps prevent the spread of potentially invasive aquatic species by ships, now covers more than 90 per cent of shipping worldwide, following China’s extension of the treaty to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Ships flagged to Hong Kong, China – the fourth largest flag administration in the world by shipping tonnage – will now be required to apply the requirements of the Ballast Water Management Convention. The Convention entered into force in 2017 and now has 83 parties, representing 90.98 per cent of the gross tonnage of the world’s merchant shipping, up from 81.83 per cent. Since the entry into force requirements for the treaty were met in September 2016, there have been some 30 ratifications, with the tonnage covered increasing considerably, from 35.14 per cent to 90.98 per cent.