The Federal Maritime Commission has voted unanimously to accept a petition filed by the Lake Carriers’ Association (LCA) which alleges that ballast water regulations proposed by the Government of Canada will discriminate against US-flag vessel operators. In its petition, the Lakes Carriers’ Association asserts that “Transport Canada, an agency of the Government of Canada has proposed adoption of regulations requiring LCA’s members who operate vessels that operate exclusively on the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River to install a ballast water management system (BWMS) to treat ballast water that is loaded in Canada and discharged in the United States, even though that requirement is of no environmental benefit to Canada. The investigation will examine the detriment and harm to the U.S. flag fleet resulting from the proposed regulations.
