The status of ballast water management in the ports of South Africa.
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Date
2012
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Abstract
Ballast water discharged from ships is considered to be one of the four biggest
threats to oceans, as alien species, detrimental to the marine ecosystems, are
introduced into domestic waters via ballast. Nevertheless, eight years after its
adoption, the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ship’s
Ballast Water and Sediments of 2004 remains unenforced. In the interim, the IMO
has encouraged member countries to implement national ballast water policies in
order to reduce the risk of alien invasions into their waters. South Africa was
chosen as one of six countries in the world to participate as a pilot country for the
GloBallast programme which was conducted in Saldanha Bay between 2000 and
2004. The purpose of the GloBallast programme was to assist developing
countries to understand, develop and implement control measures relating to ships
ballast water within their ports. The outcome of the risk assessment completed
during the programme was that South Africa needed to implement a mandatory
ballast water reporting system. The purpose of this study is to examine the status
of ballast water management in the ports of South Africa and to determine the
progress made since South Africa participated in the GloBallast programme. The
methodology used in this study included questionnaires distributed to industry
experts and the full population of Ships Agents that are members of the South
African Association of Ship Operations and Agents. The findings show that whilst
each port is reported to have a ballast water management plan; only three of the
eight potential plans could be produced. Two of these plans, belonging to the ecosensitive
ports of Ngqura and Saldanha Bay, were proven to be well-known
amongst the agents. The other ports, however, reflected a weak 50% and lower
level of awareness. It was further determined that the ships agents are largely
unaware of the responsibilities placed upon them by these plans. The findings
further revealed that these regulations have not been monitored or enforced and
presently ballast water management would appear to be merely a paper exercise.
Those ships agents who are aware and comply with the requirements report that
they have never had a problem with obtaining approval to discharge ballast.
Recent developments in July 2012 show that the Department of Transport has
assembled a team to further develop legislation and regulations to address ballast
water management in South Africa.
Description
Thesis (MBA)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2012.
Keywords
Ballast water--South Africa--Management., Ballast water--Environmental aspects--South Africa., Harbours--South Africa., Discharge of ballast water--South Africa., Theses--Business administration.