The accession of Finland to the IMO’s (International Maritime Organisation) Ballast Water Management Convention has triggered the entry into force of the said regulation, which will occur next 8^th of September, 2017.

The Convention, adopted the 13^th February 2004 and ratified by Spain the 20^th of July 2005, is a key international measure for environmental protection that aims to prevent the propagation of invasive aquatic species through ballast water, which might affect local ecosystems, biologic diversity and provoke noticeable economic losses.

The IMO General Secretary, Kitack Lim, has stated that the coming into force of this Convention is an important milestone for the health of our Planet, by which not only the risk of invasion of foreign species through ballast water will be reduced, but also equitable conditions for international carriage of goods by sea with clear and solid rules regarding the management of ballast water will be provided.

In this link you can consult the complete IMO publication.