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During transport, to maintain vessel stability, “ballast water” is pumped in, if necessary, to keep the vessel balanced. However, as the ballast water may carry local aquatic organisms, a “ballast treatment system” is required to remove the aquatic organisms and pathogens contained in the ballast water and sediments in order to avoid affecting the marine environment and ecological balance. In accordance with the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments (BWM), Yang Ming has installed ballast water treatment equipment on the vessels and created a new edition Ballast Water Management Plan (BWMP) for review and delivery to the vessels. Relevant ballast water management practices are subject to PSC (Port State Control) inspections to meet the requirements of all port states.
2022 Achievements
No events with serious leaks or release of vessel waste into nature in 2022
YM Instruction, YM Interaction, YM Inauguration, and YM Improvement, and the new edition Ballast Water Management Plan was submitted for review in 2022
As of the end of 2022, the Company’s 44 own vessels have been installed with ballast water systems, accounting for about 86%
We expect to install ballast water equipment on all Yang Ming’s vessels by Q1 2024
BIODIVERSITY
The research project titled “Research and Discussion on the Ballast Water Treatment Methods Applicable to Cargo Ships” was commissioned by Yang Ming and National Taiwan Ocean University to the “YM-NTOU Framework – Yang Ming Think Tank” in 2022 to analyze the cost-effectiveness and biological treatment effect of chemical agents in treating vessel ballast water. Through such research plans, the ballast water treatment mechanism for the Company’s vessels is reviewed in a strict and responsible manner. We also continue to look for more appropriate ways to reduce the impact of ballast water on marine ecology.
Plan for Vessel Speed Reduction to Protect Blue Whales
Between May and November every year, to prevent vessels from colliding with blue whales, humpback whales, fin whales, and other endangered large marine animals in Southern California and San Francisco Bay waters and allow the whales to migrate to the waters for foraging, the Company decreases the speed of the fleet to below 10 knots in continuation of the Company’s support of the “Protecting Blue Whales & Blue Skies” Program hosted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) since 2016. In recognition of Yang Ming’s effort, we were presented with a Sapphire award which is the highest honor in 2022.Great Barrier Reef Protection
The Company’s vessels call at the Port of Sydney, Port of Melbourne, and Port of Brisbane in Australia. In sailing all the way from any Asian port to the aforementioned ports, low-sulphur fuels containing less than 0.5% of sulphur are used. Instead of the core waters of the Great Barrier Reef, our vessels navigate the Particularly Sensitive Sea Area waters east of the Great Barrier Reef according to route recommendations from Weathernews Inc. to conserve the coral reef, demonstrating Yang Ming’s contribution and determination to protect the marine ecological environment.Asian Gypsy Moth Regulations
The Company’s fleet observes the announcement on Asian gypsy moths (AGMs) made jointly by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), and Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) to take the following measures for vessels docked in the AGM supervision area during the certain risk period:- Accredited certification bodies inspect the vessels and certify that they are free of AGMs.
- The vessels should arrive at the ports in Northern America free of AGMs. To avoid facing route changes, being asked to leave port for cleaning, and being potentially affected in terms of reducing the risk of AGMs entering Northern American, carriers should conduct frequent vessel inspections themselves to identify and remove (scrape off) any AGM egg masses and AGMs in any state of development. All found AGM egg masses and AGMs should be properly treated or destroyed before entering any American and Canadian ports.
- The vessels should provide a list of ports that they called at in the past 2 years to their Canadian or American agents at least 96 hours before arrival at any Northern American ports.
The bamboo flooring of the Company’s containers must meet Yang Ming’s testing requirements. Before assembly, the flooring undergoes permanent preservative treatments according to the container quarantine and inspection procedures of the Australian Federal Departments of Health and Transport and in accordance with the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service’s requirements. After use, all containers must be fully cleaned and free of organic substances in compliance with the requirements of the Institute of International Container Lessors (IICL) in each pre-trip inspection. In addition, new, tin-free ship paints are used for hulls to avoid ocean pollution, maintaining biodiversity.