An Assessment of Progress in the Implementation of the BWM Convention on Ships as an Important Element in Protecting Aquatic Ecosystems

Rocznik Ochrona Środowiska 2021, vol. 23, pp. 78-93

Kinga Zatoń-Sieczka  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Przemysław Czerniejewski   

	Department of Commodity, Quality Assessment, Process Engineering and Human Nutrition, Westpomeranian University of Technology in Szczecin, Poland
	This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
	https://doi.org/10.54740/ros.2021.005

The purpose of this study was to assess progress in the implementation of rules for the control and handling of ballast water and sediments, regulated by the International Convention on the Control and Handling of Ship Ballast Water and Sediments (BWM Convention). The survey was conducted in 2018-2019 among seafarers responsible for handling ballast tanks. Analysis of the survey data revealed that despite the introduction of water treatments, ballast water continues to be a vector for the transfer of non-native organisms. This is due to the low effectiveness of the methods used, and the fact that 8% of the respondents answered that no BWT systems were used on the ships they manage. Despite this, some seafarers (4.7%) indicated that increasing environmental awareness and adherence to BWM principles should result in improved protection of aquatic ecosystems. Therefore, the global problem concerning the transport of non-native organisms via ballast water has still not been solved effectively. In the near future, improved BWT systems should be introduced, which after proper training of the crew will act as a barrier to the transfer of non-native organisms in ballast water.

ballast water, foreign species, BWM convention, ballast water treatment, sea transport

AMA Style
Zatoń-Sieczka K, Czerniejewski P. An Assessment of Progress in the Implementation of the BWM Convention on Ships as an Important Element in Protecting Aquatic Ecosystems. Rocznik Ochrona Środowiska. 2021; 23. https://doi.org/10.54740/ros.2021.005

ACM Style
Zatoń-Sieczka, K., Czerniejewski, P. 2021. An Assessment of Progress in the Implementation of the BWM Convention on Ships as an Important Element in Protecting Aquatic Ecosystems. Rocznik Ochrona Środowiska. 23. DOI:https://doi.org/10.54740/ros.2021.005

ACS Style
Zatoń-Sieczka, K.; Czerniejewski, P. An Assessment of Progress in the Implementation of the BWM Convention on Ships as an Important Element in Protecting Aquatic Ecosystems Rocznik Ochrona Środowiska 2021, 23, 78-93. https://doi.org/10.54740/ros.2021.005

APA Style
Zatoń-Sieczka, K., Czerniejewski, P. (2021). An Assessment of Progress in the Implementation of the BWM Convention on Ships as an Important Element in Protecting Aquatic Ecosystems. Rocznik Ochrona Środowiska, 23, 78-93. https://doi.org/10.54740/ros.2021.005

ABNT Style
ZATOŃ-SIECZKA, K.; CZERNIEJEWSKI, P. An Assessment of Progress in the Implementation of the BWM Convention on Ships as an Important Element in Protecting Aquatic Ecosystems. Rocznik Ochrona Środowiska, v. 23, p. 78-93, 2021. https://doi.org/10.54740/ros.2021.005

Chicago Style
Zatoń-Sieczka, Kinga, Czerniejewski, Przemysław. 2021. "An Assessment of Progress in the Implementation of the BWM Convention on Ships as an Important Element in Protecting Aquatic Ecosystems". Rocznik Ochrona Środowiska 23, 78-93. https://doi.org/10.54740/ros.2021.005

Harvard Style
Zatoń-Sieczka, K., Czerniejewski, P. (2021) "An Assessment of Progress in the Implementation of the BWM Convention on Ships as an Important Element in Protecting Aquatic Ecosystems", Rocznik Ochrona Środowiska, 23, pp. 78-93. doi:https://doi.org/10.54740/ros.2021.005

IEEE Style
K. Zatoń-Sieczka, P. Czerniejewski, "An Assessment of Progress in the Implementation of the BWM Convention on Ships as an Important Element in Protecting Aquatic Ecosystems", RoczOchrSrod, vol 23, pp. 78-93. https://doi.org/10.54740/ros.2021.005