The Ballast Water Management (BWM) Convention has edged closer to ratification with the accession of Peru.

Peru became the 51st state to sign up to the convention on Friday. However, with just 0.06% of the world’s fleet in gross tonnage terms it only pushed the percentage of the world’s fleet to have ratified the convention to 34.87% from 34.81% previously. The convention requires ratification by states controlling 35% of the world’s fleet to come into force.

IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim reiterated his request to countries that have not already done so, to ratify the BWM Convention as soon as possible in order to establish a certain date for entry into force.