Combating invasive species

Invasive marine species transported in ships’ ballast water tanks from one part of the world to another pose a significant threat to the world’s oceans.

In 2008, Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics programme funds supported WWF in its efforts to minimise the increasing threat to marine ecosystems from invasive species transported in ships’ ballast water and to promote the ratification and implementation of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Ballast Water Management Convention.

Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics also initiated an ambitious environmental project to investigate the possible effects on the open ocean of the current method of ballast water exchange, which involves replacing coastal water taken on board while the vessel is in port with water from the open ocean.

WWL is conducting a water-sampling project in conjunction with the round-the-world Volvo Ocean Race. Crews are collecting seawater samples along the race route, testing them onboard to determine the content of microorganisms and sending results electronically to scientists for evaluation and inclusion in an international study.

The project aims to: raise public awareness about invasive species, support the passage of legislation to prohibit the release of untreated ballast water into the oceans, and expand the knowledge base by collecting information about the invasive species threat. Read more