About the Course
Ballast water taken onboard ships to ensure stability can carry thousands of aquatic organisms. These can potentially become invasive when carried to a new location, threatening local biodiversity and resources. The International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments (BWM Convention) was adopted in 2004 to introduce global regulations to control the transfer of potentially invasive aquatic species. With the convention in force since 2017, ships are required to manage their ballast water in accordance with its provisions. The course aims to provide an overview of ballast water management and how it helps protect the marine environment, the BWM Convention and its associated guidelines, the role of Administrations and other stakeholders such as shipping companies and seafarers in implementing global standards, and practical information to ensure compliance with the regulation.
The course is offered free of charge and is available in English. It is self-paced, requiring no prerequisites for enrollment. Participants can start, pause, resume, or replay the course at any time. Upon successful completion, a certificate of completion can be downloaded and printed.
The course is designed to take 18 hours to complete.
