#20 with Steve Raaymakers

ince the days of sail, ships have carried ballast, originally in the form of rocks, to balance the ship correctly. Often cargo ships would take on ballast when empty of cargo and remove the ballast when cargo was loaded. Modern ships, especially bulk carriers and tankers, continue this practice, except now sea water is used instead of rocks.

Most marine organisms have planktonic egg or larval stages and it is possible for these to be drawn into a ship's ballast tanks when ballast water is taken on. When the ballast water is eventually discharged, often at a port in another country, any organisms discharged with the ballast may survive and even establish viable populations.

The introduction of marine pests via this vector is a major concern for Australia which is a net exporter of bulk cargo (e.g. coal, iron ore, bauxite, silica sand, sugar and grain) and therefore a major importer of ballast water.

The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation's Centre for Research on Introduced Marine Pests (CRIMP) estimates that up to 75 species have been introduced to Australian marine environments, with possibly many others not yet known. Some of these are causing measurable ecological impacts and/or are of significant concern to commercial fisheries and even human health.

Such introductions have significant implications for the Great Barrier Reef. Some ports in this region are amongst the largest and most frequent importers of ballast in the country.

Australia has been extremely active in attempting to address this serious concern. The Commonwealth Government has designated the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) as the lead agency for this issue. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) with support from AQIS has been leading efforts within the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to develop an international regulatory regime for ballast management. A national advisory council with high-level, cross-sectoral representation has been formed. A national ballast water management strategy including voluntary guidelines for shipping and a strategic research program has been developed.

The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation's CRIMP has been formed and is actively surveying ports around the country for the presence of foreign marine species. It is also undertaking research into possible biological controls and other subjects.

Many state agencies are also active in this area. For example, the Queensland Ports Corporation is funding research and development of ballast water treatment technology, is commissioning CRIMP to conduct surveys within its ports, and together with some individual Queensland ports authorities, is about to complete a major ballast water risk assessment for 12 Queensland ports.

Finally, industry is also becoming involved. In particular, the Australian mining and energy industries have a keen interest in this subject. Approximately 80% of ballast water introduced to Australia is a direct result of the bulk export of minerals and energy products (e.g. iron ore, coal, oil and gas).

In recognition of this, in 1996-97, the Australian Minerals and Energy Environment Foundation (AMEEF) awarded a travelling scholarship. It was for the study of international responses to the ballast water issue and to benchmark ballast water management at Australian bulk mineral and energy export ports against the world's best practice.

This is the first time that an AMEEF travelling scholarship has been awarded for a subject not directly related to on-mine activities. It demonstrates the mining industry's recognition that its environmental issues extend beyond the mining lease. I was lucky enough to be the recipient of this scholarship.

At the time of writing my study tour has taken me to various ports, government agencies, institutions and non-government organisations in England, France, Switzerland, Holland, Denmark, Sweden and North America.

The objectives of the study tour are to:

• assess the international research, regulatory and management responses to the ballast water issue, and their implications for bulk mineral and energy exports from Australia; and

• assess the world's best practice in ballast water management and benchmark against the situation at Australian bulk mineral and energy export ports. Findings so far are that Australia appears to be far more active in responding to this issue than the European countries, while the Americans are more pro-active in the regulatory area, with specific legislation addressing non-indigenous marine species having been passed and recently strengthened.