Risk of Introduction of Alien Species in the Goliat Field
Authors: Bybee Karen 
Published: February 2015

This article, written by Assistant Technology Editor Karen Bybee, contains highlights of paper SPE 127063, ’The Risk of Introduction of Alien Species at the Goliat Field in the Barents Sea and Risk Reducing Measures,’ by Amund Ulfsnes, DNV; Egil Dragsund, OLF; and Torild Nissen-Lie, DNV, originally prepared for the 2010 SPE International Conference on Health, Safety, and Environment in Oil and Gas Exploration and Production, Rio de Janeiro, 12-14 April. The paper has not been peer reviewed.

The International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments was adopted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in 2004, with the main objective being to reduce the probability of dispersion of hazardous nonindigenous species. Implementation of ballast-water-treatment systems is mandatory for all international vessels by 2016. The Norwegian government ratified the ballast water convention in 2006.

Background

On 13 February 2004, the Environmental Committee of IMO adopted the Ballast Water Convention. IMO previously had adopted several voluntary guidelines for the treatment of ballast water that provided guidance and recommendations for the handling of ballast water to reduce the likelihood of the spread of harmful alien organisms that can lead to negative consequences for the environment. Previous guidelines had emphasized the replacement of ballast water in open waters, while this measure was phased out in the Convention in favor of the requirements for the quality of ballast water discharged from ships. The Convention states that during a transitional period, the requirement shall be to replace the ballast water in open waters that meet the specified requirements for depth and distance from shore. Requirements for the purification of ballast water so that the ballast water meets the specified quality requirements will be introduced for ships in international trade over a period from 2009 to 2016, depending on the size and year of construction of the ship.

The Convention will enter into force 12 months after at least 30 countries representing at least 35% of world tonnage have ratified the Convention. According to IMO, 14 countries that together represent 3.55% of world tonnage have ratified the convention (August 2008). The parliament in Norway ratified the Convention in 2006, and together with Spain are currently (2008) the only European countries that have made the ratification. However, the dates for the phasing in of clean technologies and phasing out of exchange of ballast water are fixed and will be retroactive regardless of when the Convention enters into force. That is why several shipyards and ship owners who already have installed, or are planning the installation of, equipment onboard ships with the purpose of treating ballast water do this according to the requirements of the Convention. However, there is a discussion in the Marine Environment Protection Committee about whether the deadlines of the Convention are realistic in terms of access to authorized management systems and shipyard capacity for installation of treatment systems. The argument runs primarily on the first date (1 January 2009) for the smaller ships with ballast-water capacity of 5000 m3 or less. On the basis of a likely ratification date for the Convention, however, there remains a challenge for international shipping in the period up to 2016. Regional agreements between countries and national regulations about change or treatment of ballast water along with generally increasing awareness of issues related to ballast water, are expected to reduce the risk of transmission of organisms.