Welcome

The purpose of the Ballastwater & Environmental Manufacturers Association (BEMA or Association) is to provide manufacturers and service providers in the ballast water and environmental equipment market with leadership and a unified voice. The Association will work on behalf of its members to support all stakeholders at the International Maritime Organization and will serve as a central point for regulatory agencies, the testing community, and general public to seek out technical information on the effective use and application of equipment designed to reduce the environmental impact of shipping, including the treatment of ballast water and cleaning of ship’s hulls to prevent the transfer of aquatic invasive species by ships. The Association, as a not-for-profit organization, shall, in furtherance of this basic purpose, have the following objectives:

• To represent and serve as a central, common voice for ballast water and biofouling removal equipment manufacturers;
• To promote the application of effective technology to reduce the environmental impacts of shipping, consistent with local, state, federal and international regulations, current status of the art and sound engineering practice;
• To provide the shipping industry with design and operational expertise to balance the numerous perspectives from regulators, ship owner organizations, scientific testing networks, and environmental organizations that influence the requirements that directly impact the manufacturers as stakeholders in the ballast water treatment community.
• To participate at the IMO and represent the industry to advance knowledge about the design, manufacture, installation, maintenance, and long-term functionality of equipment designed and implemented to reduce the environmental impact of shipping.
• To provide and stimulate authoritative organized research, education and information exchange within the industry and with other industries, government bodies and interested organizations;
• To mobilize and finance voluntary, staff and professional expertise to provide the required range of service to members;
• To maintain liaison and cooperate with governmental agencies as well as allied trade and professional associations throughout the world; and
• To expand to represent the manufacturers, designers, and users of developing and emerging environmental technologies designed to lessen the environmental impacts of shipping.