ClassNK

Introduction to Ballast Water Management Convention

According to IMO estimates, ships carry some 3 billion tons to 5 billion tons of ballast water globally each year. “The International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments, 2004” (Ballast Water Management Convention) was adopted in 2004 with the aim of protecting the marine environment from the transfer of harmful aquatic organisms in ballast water carried by ships. And, the BWM Convention entered into force on 8 September 2017.

The latest information of ratification status of the Convention can be accessed through "Recent ratifications" in IMO Homepage: IMO / English / About IMO / Conventions / Status of Conventions that allows downloading datasheet of each country.

Ballast water management for ships need to be made in accordance with the following Standards under this Convention.

(1) Ballast water performance standard (Regulation D-2)
(2) Ballast water exchange standard (Regulation D-1)

Finally, ships shall conduct primary method that Harmful Aquatic Organisms and Pathogens in ballast water are treated with approved Ballast Water Management System (BWMS).

International Ballast Water Management Certificate (IBWMC)

All ships of 400 gross tonnage and above to which the BWM Convention applies (including existing ships, except floating platform, FSUs and FPSOs) are required to carry International Ballast Water Management Certificate.

The below documents are to be kept on board not only ships applied with Regulation D-2 (ballast water performance standard) but also those with only Regulation D-1 (ballast water exchange standard).

(1) International Ballast Water Management Certificate (IBWMC)
(2) Approved Ballast Water Management Plan (BWMP)
(3) Ballast Water Record Book (BWRB)

ClassNK carries out initial survey to confirm that required documents and equipment are provided onboard, and issue the certificate (IBWMC) on behalf of some flag Administration. Also, prior to the initial survey, it is necessary that the onboard documents and revised drawing be approved; please submit them to ClassNK Machinery Department beforehand. For more details about the abovementioned plans, please refer to ClassNK Technical Information No. TEC-1086. With regard to the survey application, please submit it to our site office in charge of the onboard survey.

TEC-1086

Where a ship, which operates only in waters under jurisdiction of a single Party with their permission not to comply with the Convention, operates outside of the area of waters as defined on a single voyage (e.g. for a dry-dock etc.), an exemption may be granted for the ship on the condition that the ship performs ballast water exchange in accordance with an approved Ballast Water Management Plan. The details can be found in the following link:

BWM.2/Circ.52/Rev.1

Due date for Implementation installing Ballast Water Management System

On the 72th session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC72) which was held in April 2018, regarding to the application schedule of Regulation D-2 (ballast water performance standard) in the convention, the amendment of Regulation B-3 was adopted. For more details about the schedule of the ballast water discharge standards, please refer to ClassNK Technical Information No. TEC-1116.

TEC-1116

Ballast Water Management System should be approved by Administrations in accordance with IMO Guidelines (G8/G9) to comply with the Regulation D-2 standard of the Convention. Approval (G8 and G9) list of Ballast Water Management System can be found in the following link:

List of approved Ballast Water Treatment System

For ships engaged in U.S. waters, the Installation of the Ballast Water Management System is to be approved by United States Coast Guard (USCG). The latest information of the approval of Ballast Water Management System by USCG can be found in USCG Homepage:

United States Coast Guard

Sampling and analysis at the Commissioning test

Commissioning test to verify the proper operation of equipment shall be carried out at the installation of any BWMS. MEPC 74 has approved a draft amendment to the Ballast Water Management Convention (BWMC) to conduct commissioning testing so as to demonstrate through representative sampling and indicative analysis that a BWMS is working properly, and this amendment has been adopted at MEPC 75.
According to the amendments, sampling and analysis should be conducted at commissioning test if the survey including verification of BWMS installation is completed on or after 1 June 2022.
MEPC 75 further adopted amendments to Guidance for the commissioning testing of ballast water management systems (BWM.2/Circ.70/rev.1).
The major revision points are specified below.

• Local ambient water should be used for testing regardless of the organism concentrations in the water.
• Representative samples should be analyzed for the two size classes of organisms, namely ≥ 50 μm, and ≥ 10 μm to < 50 μm, as specified in the D-2 standard, using indicative analysis methods. Analysis for microbes is not required.

Prior to the entering into force of this amendment, following flag administrations require the early implementation so that the sampling analysis to be conducted in accordance with their instructions.

Also, the following flag administrations recommend the early implementation of the sampling analysis.

Information of Ballast Water Management Convention

INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION FOR THE CONTROL AND MANAGEMENT OF SHIPS’ BALLAST WATER AND SEDIMENTS, 2004