Please see new title Ballast Water Management Convention & the Guidelines for its Implementation, 2009 Edition at vp.imo.org/Shop/I621E. It has been widely recognized that the uncontrolled discharge of ballast water and sediments from ships has led to the transfer of harmful aquatic organisms and pathogens, causing injury or damage to the environment, human health, property and resources. In response to this, guidelines for the control and management of ships ballast water to minimize the transfer of harmful aquatic organisms and pathogens were adopted by IMO in 1997 to supersede earlier MEPC guidelines. Following further extensive consideration of the subject, an International Conference was convened in 2004 at which the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships Ballast Water and Sediments was adopted. This publication contains the texts of the Convention in English, French and Spanish, plus four resolutions that were adopted by the Conference.