Representatives of the Shipping Administration and the Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine took part in the regional workshop on ballast water management for Black Sea littoral states, held by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) on 21–23 October 2025 in Batumi, Georgia.
Co-organised by the Maritime Transport Agency of Georgia within the framework of the IMO Integrated Technical Cooperation Programme, the event was also attended by personnel of maritime administrations and environmental authorities from the Republic of Moldova and the Republic of Türkiye.
The aim of the regional workshop was to assist the competent authorities of the Black Sea littoral states in ratification, implementation, and enforcement of the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments, 2004 (BWM Convention).
Prior to the study visit to Georgia, the participants had completed IMO’s prerequisite e-learning course “Introduction to Ballast Water Management and Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement”. They filled out preparatory questionnaires to adapt the training to national and regional needs as well.
During the workshop, an exchange of best practices in ships’ ballast water and sediments management took place, aimed at preventing the spread of invasive aquatic microorganisms. A special emphasis was placed on conducting inspections and certification of technical solutions by flag states, statutory obligations of coastal states, risk assessment, as well as arrangement of baseline biological surveys in port facility waters.
Furthermore, the three-day training programme included a visit to the Port of Batumi, where participants directly familiarised themselves with operation of ballast water management systems on ships and applicable port state control procedures.
Knowledge and recommendations gained are of significant practical importance for further activities of the Shipping Administration, including the support for implementation of the BWM Convention after Ukraine’s accession to it.
