Challenges hindering the ballast water management compliance in Nigeria

Abstract

ABSTRACT The problem of invasive species transfer through ship’s ballast water has resulted in the mandatory International Maritime Organisation (IMO D-2 standards for existing vessel to installation ballast water treatment system (BWTS) onboard for compliance with the schedule deadline of 8 September 2024. However, many ship owners are still not able to comply with the regulation due to the presence of several challenges. Hence, this study evaluates the challenges hindering the Ballast Water Management System (BWMS) compliance of shipping operators in Nigeria from installation of BWTSs. Based on the expert interview and industry review, technical challenges (TCs), environmental challenges (ENCs), economic challenges (ECCs), and other challenges (OCs) were identified as the major challenges responsible for the non-compliance among the Nigerian shipping companies. The Analytical Hierarchy Process was used for evaluating and ranking the various challenges, and the results obtained indicate that OCs, which include external and internal influences on ship operators, ship type, age, and trading route, obtained the highest rank (0.3666), followed by ECCs (0.3648) and TCs obtaining the third rank (0.1456). ENCs were regarded as the least concern (0.1223) for shipping operators in the region in their decision to comply with the BWMS by installing BWTS onboard their ship. This study will help decision-makers in prioritizing the management measure and taking policy decision that can promote the compliance among shipping companies in the region.