[en] Ballast water is a resource that allows to improve the stability of the ship while sailing without cargo, representing an additional weight that improves the conditions of navigation. However, the possible transfer of pathogens and aquatic organisms contained in the ballast water and sediments of the vessels during the unballasting operations represents a problem of special relevance currently. Recently, IMO has shown great concern on this issue, by demonstrating that a single vessel performing its ballasting and unballasting operations without proper management would be sufficient to facilitate the transfer of among 3.000 and 4.000 different species of microorganisms and pathogens, to areas where they normally do not live. Approximately 90% of world freight transport takes place by sea, so we must be aware of this important problem, whose solutions are still, in many cases, in the process of improvement or development. An uncontrolled discharge of ballast water can lead to unwanted pollution events, as a result of inadequate management by the crew, ports, reception facilities or companies involved. The incorporation of species from other regions of the planet might displace the native flora and fauna of a particular marine ecosystem, giving rise to the proliferation of invasive communities that could reach the pest dimension. Therefore, it is essential to respect the Rules established by the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments (recently entered into force) as well as the different guidelines that complement it. There are numerous methods approved and apt to carry out the mentioned management, whether they are mechanical, physical, or chemical. In general, the best option consists of a combination of several of them, as we are going to explain throughout the project. In addition, nowadays, numerous studies and programs are being carried out, such as GloBallast, whose objective is to minimize, and ultimately eradicate, the transfer of these harmful organisms. Also under development are alternative ships capable of sailing without incorporating ballast tanks, reduced ballast ships or those that transport ballast water permanently, without discharging it into the sea. Likewise, emphasis will be placed on the collaborative role to be played by the States Parties to the Convention, to facilitate their implementation and ensure that their precepts are met in the waters under their jurisdiction. Nowadays, we are in a phase of evaluation of the Convent, in order to locate which are the most difficult points to implement, correction of errors and preparation of new proposals. At the same time, technological advances, and collaboration between the public and private sectors through initiatives such as GloBallast, will allow the development of more complex mechanisms to solve this problem globally.

[gl] A auga de lastre é un recurso que permite mellorar a estabilidade do buque cando este navega sen carga, representando un peso adicional que mellora as condicións da navegación. Sen embargo, a posible transferencia de axentes patóxenos e organismos acuáticos contidos na auga de lastre e sedimentos dos buques durante as operacións de deslastre, representa un problema de especial relevancia na actualidade. Recentemente, a OMI mostrou unha grande preocupación por este tema, ao pór de manifesto que un único buque realizando as súas operacións de lastre e deslastre sen unha xestión adecuada, abondaría para facilitar o traslado de entre 3.000 e 4.000 especies diferentes de microorganismos e axentes patóxenos, cara a áreas onde normalmente non habitan. Aproximadamente o 90% do transporte mundial de mercancías ten lugar por vía marítima, polo que debemos tomar conciencia desta importante problemática, cuxas solucións aínda se atopan, en moitos casos, en vías de mellora ou desenvolvemento. Unha descarga incontrolada da auga de lastre podería chegar a producir sucesos de contaminación non desexados, como consecuencia dunha inadecuada xestión por parte da tripulación, portos, instalacións de recepción ou empresas involucradas. A incorporación de especies procedentes doutras rexións do planeta pode chegar a desprazar á flora e fauna autóctona dun determinado ecosistema mariño, dando lugar á proliferación de comunidades invasoras que poderían acadar a dimensión de praga. Polo tanto, resulta imprescindible respectar as Regras establecidas polo Convenio Internacional sobre a Xestión da Auga de Lastre e Sedimentos dos Buques (de recente entrada en vigor) así como as diferentes Directrices que o complementan. Existen numerosos métodos aprobados e aptos para levar a cabo a mencionada xestión, sexan estes mecánicos, físicos, ou químicos. Por norma xeral, a mellor opción consiste nunha combinación de varios deles, como explicaremos ao longo deste traballo. Ademais, hoxe en día, estanse a levar a cabo numerosos estudos e programas, como o GloBallast, cuxo obxectivo é reducir ao mínimo, e, nunha última instancia, erradicar, a transferencia destes organismos prexudiciais. Tamén se atopan en desenvolvemento alternativas de buques capaces de navegar sen incorporar tanques de lastre, os buques de lastre reducido ou tamén, aqueles que transportan auga de lastre de maneira permanente, sen descargala ao mar. Así mesmo, insistirase no papel colaborador que deben desenvolver os Estados Parte no Convenio, para facilitar a súa implementación e garantir que os seus preceptos se cumpren nas augas baixo a súa xurisdición. Na actualidade, atopámonos nunha fase de avaliación do Convenio, na procura dos puntos más difíciles de implementar, corrección de erros e elaboración de novas propostas. Ao mesmo tempo, os avances tecnolóxicos, e a colaboración entre o sector público e privado por medio de iniciativas como GloBallast, permitirán desenvolver mecanismos máis complexos que permitan solventar esta problemática a nivel global.