IAPH Urges Ratification of IMO's Bilge Water Convention

The International Association of Ports and Harbors urged nations to ratify the International Maritime Organization's bilge water management (BWM) convention, in a resolution adopted at the IAPH mid-term conference last month in Jerusalem. It said the BWM convention should "be in effect as international unified code rather than various different standards established by individual States."

In other resolutions, IAPH said:

• It will establish a Women's Forum that will aspire to advance and empower women in the maritime industry. It authorized the Women's Forum to develop policies and recommendations on equality, advancement and empowerment of women in the industry.
• It signed a Memoranda of Understanding for cooperation with organizations sharing common interests and purposes, including: the World Association for Waterborne Transport Infrastructure based in Brussels; the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) based in Alexandria, VA; the Organization of American States, Inter-American Committee on Ports, based in Washington, D.C.