Abstract
The Persian Gulf is one of the most polluted seas in the world, and various factors play a role in this pollution. One of the causes of pollution in the Persian Gulf is the problems caused by the ballast water of ships. In this research, the challenges of ballast water in incoming ships to Shahid Rajaei port in Bandar Abbas were studied and prioritized so in the first step criteria and challenges were studied from existing documents and expert comments, 3 criteria and 22 challenges were identified and then criteria and challenges were prioritized using AHP method. Results showed that the execution criterion (with 0.367 weight) is the most important of 3 criteria and from 22 challenges that were identified, regional cooperation (with 0.102 weight) is the most important challenge and in the second place there is the participatory activities challenge (with 0.095 weight), also results showed that the lesser challenges are public participation (with 0.0184 weight) and operation ability in all situation with 0.018 weight.  Therefore, it is recommended that regulations be developed to focus on managing the marine environment and coastal areas and that codified environmental monitoring programs be included in the agenda of the relevant organizations.
 

INTRODUCTION

The increase in the capacity, number, and speed of ocean-going ships has caused the amount of ballast water moved in the ship's tanks. Subsequently, the number and diversity of marine species and pathogens moved in them to increase. This, in turn, has had a significant impact on the survival of aquatic species while traveling in the balance tanks of the ship from one point to another and has also caused the transmission of some human diseases and their widespread spread among people living in coastal areas (Khojasteh et al., 2012). convention for the ships under their flag. All ships carrying ballast water are subject to the provisions of the Convention. According to the procedure of other conventions, warships and vessels that do not carry According to the provisions of the international convention on the management of ship ballast water and its sediments, the member states are obliged to implement all the rules regulations, and annexes of the convention for the ships under their flag.
All ships carrying ballast water are subject to the provisions of the Convention. According to the procedure of other conventions, warships and vessels that do not carry ballast water and ships that only travel within the limits of a country or are not designed to load ballast water are excluded from the requirements of the convention.
 

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This research is a descriptive-analytical research that was conducted in the winter of 2018 using the Analytical Hierarchy (AHP) method to identify and prioritize the challenges facing the ballast water management of ships in the Rapami region (Islamic Republic of Iran, Bahrain, Iraq, Qatar, Saudi Arabia). Kuwait, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates). At first, by reviewing documents and documents, library studies, searching the water management plan of ships and in addition, interviews with the managers and employees of the marine department of the General Directorate of Ports and Maritime Affairs and the employees of Shahid Rajaei Port (Figure 1), as the largest port of the country and the organization Environmental protection, which is a beneficiary in the discussion of Rapmi Convention, as well as ship commanders and engineers, was addressed and the effective criteria and challenges in ballast water management were determined in this way.
 

RESULTS

Three criteria and 22 challenges were identified for the ballast water management of ships, which was given a higher weight based on the results of the implementation criteria (with a weight of 0.368). Also, among the 22 challenges identified, the challenge of regional interaction and cooperation was ranked first (with a weight of 0.102) and was presented as the most important challenge. The second priority of the mentioned challenges is collaborative actions (with a weight of 0.095). The results of the research also showed that the least important challenges are the involvement of the general society (with a weight of 0.0184) and on the other hand, the ability to operate in all conditions (with a weight of 0.018).
 

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

According to the results, among the three main criteria affecting the ballast water management of ships, the implementation criterion has a higher weight. Also, 22 upcoming challenges of ballast water management in the Rapami region were identified and prioritized, among the upcoming challenges, regional interaction and cooperation was ranked first and was presented as the most important challenge, considering that eight member countries are Rapami and among these countries only J.A. Iran has become a member of the Convention on the ballast Water of Ships, so choosing this challenge as the first challenge of managing the ballast water is not far from the mind. The second priority of the mentioned challenges is collaborative measures, which shows that proper cooperation between different departments related to ballast water management in the country (Environmental Protection Organization, Ports and Maritime Organization, and the country's Industrial Standards and Research Organization) is one of the most important challenges. The results of the research also show that the least important challenges are the involvement of the general society and, on the other hand, the ability to be operational in all conditions. Regarding the involvement of the general public, it should be pointed out that since ballast water management is considered a specialized matter, the general public cannot play a significant role in it. Therefore, the low importance of this challenge is considered logical.
 
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Islamic Azad University, Bandar Abbas Branch, as well as the General Directorate of Ports and Maritime Affairs of Hormozgan Province, are thanked and appreciated for the necessary cooperation in conducting this research and providing the necessary resources.
 
REFERENCES:
Khojasteh, A.R., Zarehdosst, M. and Rasouli, M., 2012. Presenting the ship ballast water management method in the Persian Gulf using the FUZZY TOPSIS method. In 10th International Conference on Coasts, Ports and Marine Structures, Tehran. Iran. (In Persian).