Title		(As of January 31st) Status of BWM Convention ratification	Date		2012.02.23
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Status of BWM Convention Ratification  As of January 31st, 33 countries representing 26.46% of world tonnage have ratified the Ballast Water Management Convention (BWM Convention). The BWM Convention shall enter into force 12 months after the date on which not less than 30 states, and the combined merchant fleets of which constitute not less than 35% of the gross tonnage of the world’s merchant fleets, have ratified.  As the compliance date pass before IMO ratification, this convention will be applied retrospectively.  The implementation protocol of the PSC (Port State Control) is planned to be finalized at MEPC63 which will be held from February 27th to March 2nd, 2012. Regarding BW sampling and analysis, two sets of draft guidance were put forward in the IMO’s sub-committee on Bulk Liquid and Gases (BLG) which held its 16th session from January 30th through February 3rd, 2012. One draft was on sampling and analysis guidance, and the other was on PSC guidance. This result was a split between the European Commission led group and that of large flag states such as PANAMA and BAHAMAS. It seems that unless the concerns of the large flag states are met, the Convention will not come into force anytime soon. Therefore, it was voted to take these outstanding issues through to BLG 17. It is likely that the BWM Convention Ratification expected to be finalized within 2012 will drag on for some time. Albania Antigua & Barbuda Barbados Brazil Canada Cook Islands Croatia Egypt France Iran Kenya Kiribati Lebanon Liberia Malaysia Maldives Marshall lslands Mexico Mongolia Montenegro Netherlands Nigeria Norway Palau Republic of Korea Saint Kitts and Nevis Sierra Leone South Africa Spain Sweden Syrian Arab Republic Trinidad and Tobago Tuvalu

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