Torkel Elgh, President Wallenius Water, was invited to speak at one of the two seminars arranged by the Swedish Shipping Association, in Almedalen during the special politicians week. By raising the question “How can we stop invasive organisms in the Baltic Sea”, the shipping association wanted to pin point one of the major environmental threats we have today according to the UN. “We know the problem and there are solutions”, moderator Anders Marby, Lighthouse concluded, “but what are the politicians doing?”
Docent Karin Andersson, Chalmers, laid out all the facts about the ballast water problem as well as the economical, social and health related consequences this could have for the Baltic Sea. Torkel Elgh then described the technology behind PureBallast, one of the available systems for ballast water treatment with no chemicals involved in the process. Lasse Gustavsson, Secretary General WWF, gave the audience of 50 a small chock when he stated that the problem with invasive organisms in the Baltic is a bigger problem than an oil spill as nature does have its own tools to tackle the spill even if it takes very long time, but these tools cannot tackle the invasive organisms.
Lasse Gustavsson also reminded everyone of the IMO convention from 2004 stating that ballast water needs to be treated before released into new waters. He noticed however that the convention still hasn’t come into force since it still hasn’t been ratified by enough countries and he asked rhetorically “how difficult can it be?” Both Sofia Arkelsten (M) and Tina Ehn (MP) assured Lasse Gustavsson, as well as the audience, that they were well aware of the problem and that they want to work together with both the industry and relevant organisations with this important issue, not least within the work of Hellcom.
Read more about Sveriges Redareförening in Almedalen (in Swedish only)
