First Meeting of the Online BWM Working Group – Jun 03, 2026

    REMPEC Launches Regional Consultation Process on Ballast Water Management (BWM)
    First Meeting of the Online BWM Working Group

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    On 3 June 2026, the Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Response Centre for the Mediterranean Sea (REMPEC) convened the first meeting of the Regional Online Ballast Water Management (BWM) Working Group, bringing together experts nominated by the Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention to support the implementation of the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments, 2004 (BWM Convention), and the Mediterranean Ballast Water Management Strategy (2022–2027). 

    The meeting marked the launch of a regional consultation process aimed at advancing technical cooperation and promoting a harmonised approach to ballast water management throughout the Mediterranean region. During the meeting, REMPEC presented two draft regional instruments developed to support Contracting Parties in the implementation and enforcement of ballast water management requirements: 

    • A Draft Regional Protocol for Sampling of Ballast Water for Port State Control (PSC) Inspections, intended to facilitate a consistent approach to ballast water sampling during PSC inspections across the Mediterranean region; and
    • A Draft Preliminary Assessment on the Potential Development of a Regional Information and Decision-Support System for Ballast Water Management, exploring opportunities for enhanced regional cooperation through information sharing and decision-support tools.

    The experts participating in the Working Group were invited to review the draft documents and provide technical comments and recommendations as part of a structured consultation process. The feedback received will contribute to the further development and refinement of the documents before their submission to the next REMPEC Focal Points Meeting, scheduled for May 2027.

    The establishment of the Regional Online BWM Working Group provides a dedicated platform for technical exchange and collaboration among Mediterranean coastal States. Through this mechanism, REMPEC aims to support the effective and harmonised implementation of the BWM Convention and facilitate the achievement of the objectives set out in the Mediterranean Ballast Water Management Strategy (2022–2027).

     

    Background

    The International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments, 2004 (BWM Convention), adopted under the auspices of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), seeks to prevent, minimise and ultimately eliminate the transfer of harmful aquatic organisms and pathogens through ships’ ballast water and sediments.

    The Mediterranean Ballast Water Management Strategy (2022–2027), adopted by the Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention, provides a regional framework for cooperation and capacity-building to support the implementation of the BWM Convention and address the risks associated with the introduction and spread of invasive aquatic species in the Mediterranean Sea.

    The Regional Online BWM Working Group was established by REMPEC to facilitate technical cooperation among Contracting Parties and to support the development of regional tools, guidance and initiatives that contribute to the effective implementation of ballast water management measures across the Mediterranean region.

     Learn More

    https://www.imo.org/en/mediacentre/hottopics/pages/implementing-the-bwm-convention.aspx

    https://www.imo.org/en/ourwork/environment/pages/ballastwatermanagement.aspx