The GloBallast implementation team, including the Programme Co-ordination Unit in IMO's Marine Environment Division, and counterparts in the six GloBallast Pilot Countries (Brazil, China, India, Iran, South Africa and Ukraine), was selected as one of three finalists for the IMarEST award.

The final "heat" was held on the evening of 1 October 2003, when the finalists made a presentation to the judging panel and a general audience at IMarEST's London headquarters.

The three finalists were:

• GEF/UNDP/IMO Global Ballast Water Management Programme (GloBallast)
  Introduced by Steve Raaymakers: Technical Adviser, Programme Co-ordination Unit, GloBallast Programme, Marine Environment Division, IMO
• Development of a ballast water processing system from laboratory to pilot aboard ship to a commercial system capable of managing the full ship's ballast
  Presented by Bud Leffler: Founder, President, Chief Executive Officer and Director, Marine Environmental Partners Inc and Dr Andrew Rogerson, Professor & Director of Ocean Research Center and Nova Southeastern Graduate Programs
• The development of Foul Release coating for seagoing materials
  Presented by Dr Bob Townsin: Consultant and Dr Maureen Callow, Senior Research Fellow, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham

GloBallast Programme
The problem of invasive species is largely due to the expanded trade and traffic volume over the last few decades. The effects in many areas of the world have been devastating. Quantitative data show the rate of bio-invasions is continuing to increase at an alarming rate, in many cases exponentially, and new areas are being invaded all the time. Volumes of seaborne trade continue overall to increase and the problem may not yet have reached its peak.

IMO is developing mandatory regulations to address the problem and a diplomatic Conference is scheduled to be held in February 2004 to adopt a new International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments.

The Organization has joined forces with the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), individual countries and the private sector to implement the GloBallast Programme, which is an international technical co-operation programme executed by IMO, with funding from GEF, through UNDP, and with support from individual countries and the shipping industry. GloBallast activities commenced in March 2000.

The Nominee for the award was the implementation team of the GloBallast Programme, including the four-person Programme Coordination Unit at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in London, the counterparts in the six Pilot Countries in Africa, East Asia, Eastern Europe, Middle East, South Asia and South America and other partners involved in the Programme.

The full paper by the GEF/UNDP/IMO Global Ballast Water Management Programme (GloBallast) presented to IMarEST is available on request.

For more details on the GloBallast programme please contact:
Steve Raaymakers
Programme Coordination Unit
GloBallast Programme
International Maritime Organization
Tel 020 7587 3251, Fax 020 7597 3261
Email sraaymak@imo.org, Website http://globallast.imo.org

IMarEST Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal
Britain's Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her Golden Jubilee on 2 June 2002. In recognition of this historic event and in appreciation of Her Majesty's support as Patron, IMarEST awards a Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal. The aim of this award is to recognise individuals or groups who have made significant contribution to the advancement of marine engineering, science and technology, maritime safety or pollution prevention of the marine environment.

IMarEST has been a non-governmental organization in consultative status with IMO since 1995.

For further information on the award see the IMarEST website: http://www.imarest.org
IMarEST
80 Coleman Street
London EC2R 5BJ
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)20 7382 2636
Fax: +44 (0)20 7382 2667
Email: info@imarest.org

_______________

IMO - the International Maritime Organization - is the United Nations specialized agency with responsibility for the safety of shipping and the prevention of marine pollution by ships.

Web site: www.imo.org

For further information please contact:
Lee Adamson, Senior External Relations Officer 7587 3153 (media@imo.org) or
Natasha Brown, External Relations Officer on 020 7587 3274 (media@imo.org ).