BALLAST WATER

MANAGEMENT
 BALLAST WATER MANAGEMENT -
HISTORY
• In 1988, Canada was the first to signal the
negative effects resulting from migration of
invasive species
• In 1991 the first set of voluntary guidelines to
avoid the migration invasive species
• First IMO resolution in 1993, next in 1997
 BALLAST WATER MANAGEMENT -
HISTORY
• In 1999, start of the Ballast Water Working Group
at IMO tasked with the drafting of the convention.
• In 2004 the Ballast Water Management
Convention was adopted at IMO level
• Since 2004, the IMO has steadily worked on the
implementation
• The convention entered into force on 08 Sep
2017.
BALLAST WATER MANAGEMENT - AIM

• Avoid the
migration of
harmful aquatic
organisms and
pathogens
 BALLAST WATER MANAGEMENT -
APPLICATION
The convention applies to all ships according to
the definition:
Ship means a vessel of any type whatsoever
operating in the aquatic environment and
includes submersibles, floating craft, floating
platforms, FSUs and FPSOs
 BALLAST WATER MANAGEMENT -
RESOLUTIONS
Res. A. 774(18) “Guidelines for preventing the
introduction of unwanted aquatic organism and
pathogens from ship's ballast water and
sediments discharges”.
The USCG Regulations 33 CFR Part 151 and 46
CFR Part 162 entered into force on 21 June 2012
BALLAST WATER MANAGEMENT – BW
EXCHANGE
➢ At least a 95%volumetric exchange of ballast
water
➢ For ships exchanging ballast water by the
pumping- through method, pumping through
three times the volume of each ballast water tank
shall be considered to meet the standard
➢ At least 200 nautical miles from the nearest
land and in water at least 200 metres in depth
BALLAST WATER MANAGEMENT – BW
EXCHANGE
All ships required to carry our BW Exchange have
two options.
1. Empty and Refill
2. Flow through
BALLAST WATER MANAGEMENT – BW
EXCHANGE
For empty and refill method, ballast tanks are
emptied and refilled as per the sequence
mentioned in the Ballast Water Management
Plan.
The exchange must take place in deep water as
far away from land as possible. The vessel should
not have to deviate to perform the exchange.
BALLAST WATER MANAGEMENT – BW
EXCHANGE
For flow through method, the ballast tanks are
overflowed such that at least three times the
capacity of the tank is made to overflow as per
the Ballast Water Management Plan.
BALLAST WATER MANAGEMENT – BW
EXCHANGE
Local authorities can always refuse the discharge of ballast
water when the Ballast water exchange has not been carried
out due to:
1. A ship shall not be required to deviate from its intended
voyage, or delay the voyage, in order to carry out the
exchange;
2. A ship conducting Ballast Water exchange shall not be
required to comply with the standard, if the master
reasonably decides that such exchange would threaten
the safety or stability of the ship, its crew, or its
passengers
 BALLAST WATER MANAGEMENT –
PROCEDURES FOR DISPOSAL OF
RESIDUES
All ships shall remove and dispose off sediments
and residues from ballast water tanks as per the
provisions of the Ballast Water Management Plan.
Most often ships wash their ballast tanks during a
loaded passage, with the washings being pumped
overboard on the high seas in depths of over 200
metres and at least 200 nm from nearest land.
 BALLAST WATER MANAGEMENT –
CREW TRAINING AND
FAMILIARIZATION
Officers and crew shall be familiar with their
duties in the implementation of ballast water
management particular for the ship on which
they serve. They shall also be familiar with their
ship’s Ballast Water Management Plan.
BALLAST WATER MANAGEMENT –
RECORDS
All ships to which the Ballast Water Management
Convention applies have to maintain a Ballast
Water Record Book.
These ships have to also report to the port state
authorities prior to entering the territorial waters
of the coastal state on a prescribed ballast water
reporting form.
 BALLAST WATER MANAGEMENT –
RECORDS
These ships if fitted with an approved Ballast
Water Treatment Plant must report their
intentions of de-ballasting in port and get prior
approval from the port state authority.
 BALLAST WATER MANAGEMENT –
RECORDS
Following entries shall be made in the Ballast
Water Record Book.
1. When ballast water is taken on board;
2. When ballast water is circulated or treated;
3. When ballast water is discharged into the sea;
4. When ballast water is discharged to a reception
facility;
 BALLAST WATER MANAGEMENT –
RECORDS
5. Whenever ballast water exchange is carried
out on the high seas;
6. Accidental or other exceptional uptakes or
discharges of ballast water;
7. Additional operational procedures and general
remarks;