IMO seeks papers for R&D forum on ballast water management

The forum will provide an opportunity for experts to share the latest developments in technologies that may stop the spread of potentially invasive aquatic species in ships’ ballast water.

The 6th Global Environment Facility-United Nations Development Program-IMO GloBallast R&D Forum and Exhibition on Ballast Water Management will be held March 16-18 at the Headquarters of the International Civil Aviation Organization.

The forum will focus on moving toward implementation of the International Ballast Water Management Convention.

The IMO-GloBallast R&D Forum is organized every two years and brings together regulatory bodies, the maritime industry, academia, scientific experts and technology development leaders for a comprehensive overview of this rapidly expanding area of research and development and technology commercialization.

Abstracts are invited related to the topics of treatment technologies and alternative management options; compliance monitoring and enforcement; regional approaches, risk assessments and exemptions; financing capacity building; and technology testing and approval.

Abstracts, in English and a maximum 250 words, should include objectives, results and conclusions and be submitted by Jan. 15 via www.ballast2016.com/call-for-papers. They will be reviewed by an international scientific committee and authors will be notified of their acceptance by Jan. 29.