Concern of Turkiye as regard to discharge of ship’s ballast water resting 1990s. The latest investigations carried out by the Scientific and technological Research Council of Turkiye (TUBITAK) and Marmara Research Centre (MRC) and Environment Institute (EI) revealed that Turkiye and other Black sea coastal States experienced the deleterious consequences of the introduction of harmful organisms transferred by the ship’s ballast water.

In this respect, Turkiye started a pilot implementation project on Iskenderun Bay (BOTAS Harbour Master area) situated on the eastern Mediterranean coast of Turkiye. The basic idea for the project is that, it was required that all ships calling Iskenderun Bay should undertake ballast water exchange en route in water over 50/200 nautical miles from the nearest land and 200 meters depth before entering the port with respect to regulation B-4 of the Ballast Water Management Convention (BWM Convention) after November 2009.

Turkish port authorities are going to start routine inspections and take water samples from ballast tanks of the ships, which could not or did not make ballast water exchange before entering the port. The inspections will be conducted without causing any undue delay. No ships will be detained because of ballast water management deficiencies.

Two national trainings were held with Port State Control Officers for ballast water sampling techniques in collaboration with TUBITAK. Also relevant ballast water sampling equipment was provided. After analysis of the ballast water samples, if a threat of invasive species will be determined then the route of this ship will be decided as a high risk route. The Turkish maritime authority will decide a ban for all ships coming from that high risk route and exchange or treatment of ballast water will be a requirement for all ships coming from that route.

It is also required that all ships should fill in the ballast water reporting forms before entering the ports. The agents of the ships will upload these forms to the Turkish Ballast Water Reporting Web System. The ships are not going to be permitted to enter the ports without declaring the ballast water reporting forms.

Following precautions recommended to be taken by the ship’s crew for guidance purpose only and must not limit the precautions to be taken which may vary from vessel to vessel depending size, type, age, etc.
1) All Deck Scuppers to be plugged and secured.
2) Accommodation : All drain holes inside the accommodation including galley, pantry, all shower rooms and toilets’ drain holes to be closed and also all Gate Valves to be closed.
Fresh Water supply to be limited to Designated Shower Rooms with Drainage to Sewage Tank.
3) If directly connected to sea then all Public Toilet’s Washing Basins sealed, with Chief Officer’s signature on sealing tape.
4) All Laundry Rooms to be locked.
5) Crew meeting and instructions to be recorded.
6) All outlets to be checked periodically , to be sure that no discharge found, except cooling outlets for M/E generators etc.
7) All outboard valves in Engine Room and Cargo Holds to be shut & sealed, with Numerical Seals, which has to be broken when using those valves. Records for changing of seals to be made available.
8) Ship Sanitary Tank Discharge valve to be locked.
9) Seawage / sanitary system to be closed. Ship sewage tank discharge valve to be closed and locked.
10) All direct overboard outgoing lines to be closed and sealed.
11) No cleaning/washing to be made at weather deck.
12) No painting to be made on decks etc.
13) All garbages was secured.
14 ) Any other issue regarding dropping anything over board to be checked and to be prevented as applicable
All above to be recorded in Deck Log Book.

Local agents recommendations (if any ) regarding pollution prevention to be assessed and followed as applicable

Source: correspondent