The use of seawater as ballast in ships presents an opportunity for marine organisms to transfer from one marine environment to another. Because many organisms are extremely small, it is possible for them to be taken aboard a ship with its incoming ballast water. If the organism survives the various physical and chemical changes and stresses that occur during the voyage and the transfer operations it may become established in the waters of the destination port. As the factors that contribute to the successful translocation are very complex, most species transported in ships ballast do not survive. However, it is likely there have been several thousand successful translocations worldwide, some with very significant effects, the majority with little or no impact.

Existing controls

The Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) has been designated as the lead agency for the management of ballast water risks in Australia. In 1990, AQIS introduced voluntary ballast water guidelines in response to early concerns that ballast water from overseas ports may contain exotic species that have an adverse impact on the marine environment. The guidelines were refined and became mandatory on 1 July 2001. They aim to reduce the risk of introduction of exotic organisms into Australia. This is to be achieved through processes of re-ballasting at sea, ballasting in deep water, non-discharge in Australian ports, participation in compliance arrangements, and taking on ballast in agreed clean overseas ports. The new mandatory regime uses a decision support system that assesses the risk posed by each ship visit to Australian ports.

International approach

The ballast water issue is extremely complex and is currently being addressed throughout the world by different governments at different levels. Australia has been very proactive in promoting the development of uniform international ballast water controls through its involvement as Chair of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). MEPC has been endeavouring to gain commitment for the development of a new IMO international regulatory framework for ballast water. However, the IMO process is not a speedy one. In the light of this, Australia has implemented mandatory controls under the authority of the Quarantine Act.

Australian management

In recent years, various State and national management and research groups have been operating to address the ballast water problem. The Federal Government has established the CSIRO Centre for Research on Introduced Marine Pests (CRIMP). CRIMP initially focussed on port surveys for Australias major ports, with the aim of collating baseline data, (ie. identification of marine pests that had already become established). This information now forms the basis of the risk-based decision support system introduced by AQIS. The system assesses the risk presented by each ship visit by looking at which ports the ship has previously called, the nature of the pests located within those ports, the baseline information for the destination port and the degree of matching of environmental habitats. The combination of this information allows the likelihood of a successful translocation to be estimated and, consequently, assignment of the most appropriate ballast water management options prior to the ship being granted permission to enter Australian waters.

Most importantly, the master of a ship must obtain written permission from a quarantine officer before discharging ballast water in Australian ports.

More information regarding the national ballast water controls can be obtained from the AQIS website - www.aqis.gov.au/shipping. The AQIS contact phone number for Perth is (08) 9334 1555.

Fremantle Ports

Fremantle Ports engaged CRIMP to undertake a baseline survey of Fremantle/Cockburn Sound in 1999-2000. This $250,000 survey was largely funded by Fremantle Ports with contributions from the Navy, Department of Transport, Alcoa, BP and Co-operative Bulk Handling. The survey confirmed the existence of two known marine pests, the European Fan Worm and the Asian Date Mussel, within local waters.

Taking into account location and population size, they are not considered to be presenting a significant environmental impact. CRIMP relocated several of its research staff to Western Australia late in 2001 as part of an ongoing research program encompassing the east and west coasts of Australia. Fremantle Ports has a keen interest in supporting CRIMP's research efforts within the Port of Fremantle.

Summary

Australia is leading the way in attempting to have international controls for ballast water management introduced by the International Maritime Organisation. Recognising this is a slow process, the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service has developed a leading edge risk-based system to support ballast water management. These controls have gained mandatory status as of 1 July 2001 under the Quarantine Act and require ships masters to obtain written permission from AQIS to discharge any ballast water within Australian waters.

Fremantle Ports has ensured a thorough baseline survey of local waters has been conducted to support the AQIS controls. This baseline survey has confirmed the existence of two known marine pests in our waters and that they are not presenting any significant environmental impacts. Fremantle Ports is encouraging and supporting the proposed research efforts of the CSIRO/CRIMP and local universities in Port waters to develop practical monitoring programs and to further reduce the risk of any introductions.

Suggested references

http://www.aqis.gov.au/shipping
http://globallast.imo.org/
http://www.ea.gov.au/coasts/imps/index.html
http://www.marine.csiro.au/CRIMP/
http://www.wa.gov.au/westfish/hab/broc/marineinvader/index.html

Fremantle Ports contact details:

Tel: (08) 9430 3555 Fax: (08) 9336 1391
Email: mail@fremantleports.com.au
Internet: http://www.fremantleports.com.au

MAY 2002