A global environmental project about invasive species in uncleaned ballast water (the water needed for ship's stability) has been taken place during the sailing race Volvo Ocean Race. Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics, WWL, Official Logistics Partner to the Volvo Ocean Race, proposed together with its sister company Wallenius Water that the boast would take regular water samples to measure the amount of microskopic life in the ocean. The reason is both research and awareness related.
The aim of the project is to gain more knowledge and raise awareness about one of the largest threats to the oceans - the spread of invasive species by uncleaned ballast water to ecosystems where they lack natural enemies.
The United Nations’ (UN) marine body, IMO, has classed this problem as one of the largest threats to the oceans since entire ecosystems can be damaged beyond recovery, fish- and tourist industries can collapse and diseases like for instance cholera can be spread.
Another essential aim is to get more countries to ratify IMO's convention on ballast water that has been created to solve the problem.
Read more about ballast water here.