Intro

Last Updated on 6/16/2003

Welcome Aboard!

We would like to welcome everyone back to the SOCP Ballast Water Management Information Center. For those who have been tracking the Ballast Water issue over the years, you know that there is a multitude of information and websites dealing with the issue. So why another website?

In a nutshell, we want to give our members a single place to go for all of their Ballast Water information, rather than spend hours searching for bills, regulations, and reporting forms mandated by states, countries, and IMO.

The focus is two-fold. First is to provide a compendium of documents, including legislation/regulations as well as technical papers and reports, with an emphasis on treatment technologies. The second focus is to provide current news and status of issues in a timely manner.

During the remainder of 2003 we plan to update this site as new information becomes available, so come back and visit often.

News
	IMO GloBallast Program Anounces Partnership With the World Conservation Union - In the latest issue of the Global Ballast Water Management Programme's "Ballast Water News", they announce a strategic alliance with IUCN - The World Conservation Union. Under the partnership, IUCN has become a co-producer of Ballast Water News, with many articles being contributed by IUCN, including several in this issue.
	Ballast Water Treatment R&D Symposium - The 2nd International Ballast Water Treatment R&D Symposium will be held July 21-23, 2003 at IMO Headquarters in London. The program is truly global in nature and is scheduled immediately after the 49th meeting of IMO's Marine Environmental Protection Committee, which will be making decisions on the new international Ballast Water Convention.
	Ballast Water Discussed at SOCP Meeting in Pittsburg - At the SOCP meeting held June 3-4, 2003, the ballast water treatment system testing being undertaken by NOAA and MARAD was discussed. The vessel operators within SOCP agreed to form a panel to act in an advisory role to NOAA and MARAD to ensure commercial issues were adequately considered in the testing program. In addition, materials were provided to the attendees concerning the Washington State ballast water program, including the latest version of the Ballast Water law and regulations.