Water Ballast Exchange
February 8, 2002
NOTICE OF PROPOSED REVISIONS TO
PRACTICES AND PROCEDURES
(TO BE EFFECTIVE MARCH 26, 2002)
WATER BALLAST EXCHANGE
Under agreement with the SLSDC, the SLSMC is proposing to amend the joint Practices and Procedures (regulations for SLSDC) to make compliance with applicable Great Lakes shipping industry codes for ballast water management practices a mandatory prerequisite for clearance of a commercial vessel for transit of the Seaway system. This measure in support of assuring the continued control of the introduction of aquatic nuisance species (ANS) in the Great Lakes Seaway System.
The proposed change is shown in italic below.
Ballast Water and Trim
30.(1) Every ship shall be adequately
- ballasted,
- trimmed, and
- any ship that is not adequately ballasted and trimmed
in the opinion of an officer, may be refused transit or may be delayed.
(2) Beginning in the 2002 navigation season, to obtain clearance to transit the Seaway:
- every ship entering the Seaway after operating beyond the exclusive economic zone must agree to comply with the “Code of Best Practices for Ballast Water Management” of the Shipping Federation of Canada dated September 28, 2000, while operating anywhere within the Great Lakes and the Seaway; and
- every other ship entering the Seaway that operates within the Great Lakes and the Seaway must agree to comply with the “Voluntary Management Practices to Reduce the Transfer of Aquatic Nuisance Species Within the Great Lakes by U.S. and Canadian Domestic Shipping” of the Lake Carriers Association and Canadian Shipowners Association dated January 26, 2001, while operating anywhere within the Great Lakes and the Seaway.