Content of the Ballast Water Management Plan

Ballast water management convention?

In 1988, Canada and Australia raised the issue of

invasive species brought to their waters through the
discharge of ballast water by ships.

After more than 14 years of complex negotiations

between the IMO Member States, the International
Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’
Ballast Water and Sediments (BWM Convention) was
adopted on 13 February 2004.

Application of ballast water management

convention

So the first question is to which all ships this convention

applies?

Well, the convention applies to all the ships of a state

that has ratified the convention and that carry ballast.

There are few logical exemptions such as a ship that

carries permanent ballast in sealed tanks on ships, that
is not subject to discharge.

 
  

Ballast water exchange standard (regulation D1)

The first standard is to replace the ballast water in mid

sea.

This method is based on the fact that the invader

species from coastal water cannot survive in deep
waters and deep water species cannot survive in coastal
waters.

When replacing the ballast water at deep sea, BWM

convention regulation D1 requires that at least 95% of
the ballast water need to be exchanged.

And there are two ways to do that.

The first method is to deballast at least 95% of the
volume of ballast water from the tank and then re-fill it.

 
  

This is called the “Sequential method or simply Pump-in,

pump-out method)”.

For example, let us say we need to exchange the ballast

water from a ballast tank that has 1000 m3 of ballast.

In this case, we need to deballast at least 950 m3 of

ballast and then refill it.

Actually, we need to deballast as much as possible. 5%

is just allowed for the unpumpable ballast.

The second method is to keep on ballasting the ballast

tank and keep on overflowing the ballast water from
ballast tank through air pipe or other openings of the
ballast tank.

For the flow-through method, BWM convention

regulation D1 requires to pump in 3 times of the ballast
tank capacity to achieve 95% of the volumetric
exchange.

Ballast water performance standard (Regulation

D2)
The first ballast water standard is temporary and
ultimately all ships need to arrive at ballast water
performance standard (regulation D-2).

 
  

This second ballast water standard is more scientific in

words.

It aims to control the number of actual species (in

simpler word micro-organisms) that can be discharged.

If you are interested in knowing the numbers, here are

the numbers as per the BWM conventions, regulation D-
2.2.

And as you may have guessed it right, this can only be

achieved by a Ballast water treatment system.

This system is fitted before the ballast overboard and it

treats the ballast water to the required standards before
the ballast water goes overboard.

Criteria for ballast water exchange

(Regulation B-4)

To achieve ballast water standard as per regulation D-1,

the vessel needs to exchange the ballast in the mid sea.

BWM convention regulation B-4 provides the criteria for

deep sea where the ballast exchange need to be carried.

 
  

And as per regulation B-4, the ballast water exchange

need to be carried at

§ 200 Nautical miles from nearest land in a minimum

water depth of 200 meters.

§ Where above is not possible, then as far as practicable

from the nearest land but not less than 50 NM from
nearest land and in a minimum water depth of 200
meters

Regulation B-4.3 also clarifies that the ship need not

deviate from the intended route for the purpose of
complying with this requirement.

So then here is the million dollars question that

everyone has.

What if distance or depth requirements are not met

during the voyage, especially for a short voyage
between two countries?

Well, the best way is to communicate with the agent to

know the local requirements from the port authority.

For example, for the voyage from a Brazilian port to

Argentina: the vessel would not comply with the
requirements if the general route is followed.

 
  

But Argentinian port authorities have special

instructions related to ballast water exchange for the
vessels arriving from Brazilian ports.

Regulation D-1 or D-2: Which one applies

to which ships?

Vessels need to either comply with regulation D-1

(Ballast exchange) or Regulation D-2 (Ballast water
treatment system).

BWM convention regulation B-3 provides this

information.

The original regulation B-3 was amended by MEPC

circular to amend the compliance dates.
Below is the amended schedule for compliance with the
D-2 regulation.

 
  

he above schedule may look confusing because the

reference date is taken as the ballast water convention
ratification date (08 Sept 2017).

But we can simplify it a bit. So in simple terms, as per

the revised regulation B-3
§ New ships (built on or after 08 Sept 2017) must meet
D-2 standards.

§ Existing ships (built before 08 Sept 2017) must meet D-

2 standards at first IOPP renewal survey after 08 Sept
2019.

§ All vessel must comply with D-2 standards before 08

Sept 2024.

Ballast water management plan

BWM convention, regulation B-1 requires the ships to

have an approved Ballast water management plan.
The ballast water management plan is a ship specific
plan and has all the details related to the compliance
with BWM convention.

For example, it lists if the regulation D-1 is applicable to

the vessel or regulation D-2.

 
  

n the case of regulation D-1, the approved process of

achieving 95% of volumetric exchange of ballast will be
provided in the BWM plan.

It would also contain the safety consideration for ballast

water exchange.

For example the information about the set of ballast

tanks that can be exchanged together along with the
ship’s stability during this process.

If regulation D-2 is applicable then the BWM plan would

contain the information about Ballast water treatment
system.

And the BWM plan provides information about the

handling of sediments from the ballast water tanks.

Ballast water record book

Yes, another record book.

BWM convention regulation B-2 requires the ships to

have on board a “Ballast water record book”.

An entry needs to be made for each activity related to

the ballast water.

 
  

Below are the entries that need to be made

§ When Ballast Water is taken on board

§ Whenever Ballast Water is circulated or treated for

Ballast Water Management purposes

§ When Ballast Water is discharged into the sea

§ When Ballast Water is discharged to a reception facility

§ Accidental or other exceptional uptake or discharges of

Ballast Water

§ additional operational procedure and general

remarks
Codes given in the beginning pages of the ballast water
record book need to be used for making entries.

This is not much different from the entries we make for

oil record book or cargo record book on tankers.

 
  

 
  

he initial survey is carried out to verify that

§ the ship’s ballast water management plan complies with

the requirements of the convention.

§ The equipment and procedures comply with the

requirements of the convention.

The ballast water management certificate is valid for 5

years subject to the annual surveys.

The annual survey is carried out each year within three

months before or after each anniversary date.

Apart from that, an Intermediate survey is carried out

within three months before or after the second or third-
anniversary date of the certificate.

 
  

 
  

B.1 Introduction
At the beginning of each BWMP, wording should be included to reflect the regulations which are
relevant for the intended compliance, and should contain a brief introduction for the ship’s crew,
explaining the need for ballast water management, and the importance of accurate record keeping. As
required by the BWMC, the following notes have to be included: This Ballast Water Management Plan
has been approved by the Administration and no alteration or revision shall be made to any part of it
without the prior approval of the Administration. National Regulations in the Annex are not subject to
approval and should be updated independently from class by the master onboard. This Ballast Water
Management Plan may be inspected on request by an authorized authority
B.2  Ship  specific  particulars  
The  following  data  should  be  included:  
•  Ship’s  name  

•  Ship  type  
•  IMO  number  
•  Classification  society  and  registration  number  

•  Call  sign  
•  Flag  
•  Port  of  registry  
•  Owner  

•  Gross  tonnage  
•  Main  dimensions  
•  Total  ballast  water  capacity  

•  No.  and  capacity  of  ballast  pumps  

•  Total  number  of  segregated  ballast  tanks  on  board,  capacities,  centres  of  
gravity,  max.  free  surface  

moments  
•  Units  used  for  ballast  measurement  (metric)  
•  Appointed  BWM  officer  (designation/rank  of  officer)  

•  Other  ship  specific  information  relevant  for  BW  operations  

The BWM Convention includes two performance standards for the
discharge ofballast water: D1 and D2. The D1 standard concerns ballast
water exchange, which must be undertaken within open ocean areas,

 
  

>200nm from land and in seas >200m deep. The D2 standard covers
approved ballast water treatment systems.
 
Ballast Water Exchange for Compliance with the D-1 Standard of the BWM Convention and
Assignment of Class Notation BWM (D1)
 
Ballast Water Management Systems for Compliance with D-2 Standard of the BWM Convention

If the method employed is as per regulation D-1, then

we must ensure that ballast is exchanged as per the
procedures mentioned in the BWM plan.

If the method employed is as per regulation D-2, that

is, the vessel is fitted with a BWM system then we must
have a type approval certificate for such a system.