Denmark: Government to Hold International Convention on Ballast Water Management

The Danish Nature Agency, the Danish Maritime Authority and the Danish Shipowners’ Association invite you for an international conference on the many challenges posed by ballast water. The Copenhagen International Ballast Water Management Conference, which is to be held on 8 March 2012, will focus on the challenges arising with the coming entry into force of the International Maritime Organization’s Convention on Ballast Water Management.

The convention will ensure a reduction of the danger of foreign and invasive species spreading in the marine environment, but will at the same time face the maritime industry with a number of significant challenges.

At the conference, international experts will discuss these challenges, and the positive effects resulting from the convention will be highlighted. All in all, the environment, technology and economics will be in focus at the conference.

The themes of the day are the following:

• Invasive species and ballast water – seen from a biological and scientific perspective.
• The Ballast Water Management Convention – status, challenges and bottlenecks.
• Implementation and practical solutions.

Minister for the Environment Ida Auken will open the conference, which takes place at Hotel Mariott in Copenhagen from 9:00 to 16:30.

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Shipbuilding Tribune Staff, February 23, 2012