1.

8 State That 'The International Convention for The Control And Management
Of Ships’ Ballast Water And Sediments' Requires That All Ships Are Required To
Have On Board And Implement A 'Ballast Water Management Plan’ which Is
Approved By The Administration.

Ballast water management plan:

It specific to each ship, the ballast water management plan includes a detailed
description of the actions to be taken to implement the ballast water
management requirements and supplemental ballast water management
practices;

An International Ballast Water Management Certificate - (ships of 400 gt and

above) – this is issued by or on behalf of the Administration (flag State) and
certifies that the ship carries out ballast water management in accordance with
the BWM Convention and specifies which standard the ship is complying with,
as well as the date of expiry of the Certificate.
To stay compliant, each ship must always carry a ballast water
management plan, a ballast water record book and a valid international
ballast water management certificate on board.

All ships must currently conform to at least the D-1 standard, while all
new ships must abide by the D-2 regulations. However, all ships will
eventually have to meet the D-2 standard, which requires installing a
type-approved ballast water management system to treat the ballast
water.
• 1.8.1 State that the above Regulation Is Aimed at Preventing The Transfer And
Spread Of Harmful Aquatic Organisms And Pathogens From One Part Of The World
To Other Through Ship's Ballast Water.

Since the introduction of steel-hulled ships, water has been used as ballast to
stabilize ships at sea. Ballast water is pumped in to maintain safe operating
conditions throughout a voyage. This practice reduces stress on the hull, provides
transverse stability, improves propulsion and manoeuvrability, and compensates for
weight changes in various cargo load levels and due to fuel and water consumption.

While ballast water is essential for safe and efficient modern shipping operations, it
may pose serious ecological, economic and health problems due to the multitude of
marine species carried in ships’ ballast water. These include bacteria, microbes,
small invertebrates, eggs, cysts and larvae of various species. The transferred
species may survive to establish a reproductive population in the host environment,
becoming invasive, out-competing native species and multiplying into pest
proportions.
1.8.2 State that under This Regulation, It Is Required That Ships Must Have A
'Ballast Water Record Book' Which Is Used for Recording The Location, Date And
Time At Which Ballast Water Is Taken On Board And Discharged Back Into The
Sea.

The Ballast Water Management Convention (2004) requires all ships to

implement a ballast water management plan; ships must carry a ballast water
record book (BWRB) and complete ballast water management procedures to a
given standard.
This BWRB provides the means to record all the information necessary for
compliance with the BWM Convention. Split into three sections, the record book
provides detailed and step by step instructions for completing record tables on
‘Vessel Details’, ‘Routine Ballast Water Records’ and ‘Non-Routine Ballast Water
Records’. Sample pages, illustrating example routine and non-routine ballast
water operations, and plan views of ballast tanks that can be adapted to suit all
ship types are included.
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;
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;
1.8.3 State That Under This Regulation, If It Is Decided to Do 'Ballast Water Exchange' At Sea, It Should Be Done
Preferably At Distances > 200 Nm From Nearest Land And In Depths > 200 M If Above Not Possible Due To The
Limitations Along Ship's Route Then Atleast At Distances Not Less Than 50 Nm From Nearest Land And In Depths > 200
M
All ships required to carry our BW Exchange as per D1 have these options.
1. Empty and Refill (Sequential)
2. Flow through
3. Dilution

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. At least a 95% volumetric exchange of ballast water must be carried out.

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.
In both cases ballast exchange must be carried out at least 200 nautical miles from the nearest land and in water at
least 200 metres in depth.

Dilution Method: A method by which replacement ballast water is filled through the top of the ballast tank with
simultaneous discharge from the bottom at the same flow rate and maintaining a constant level in the tank throughout
the ballast exchange operation.
1.8.4 State Requirement of Ballast Water Treatment Systems and Solid Ballast.
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is responsible for protecting the marine environment from
the harmful impacts of shipping. The IMO develops global standards for ships to prevent the spread of
invasive species and potentially harmful pathogens with the ability to destroy or disrupt foreign ecosystems.
The IMO adopted The Ballast Water Management Convention (the International Convention for the Control
and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments, 2004) on September 8th 2017. The convention
includes two performance standards: Regulation D-1 and Regulation D-2.

The D-1 standard relates to ballast water exchange and requires ships to exchange at least 95% of the
ballast water far from the coast.
The D-2 standard covers approved ballast water treatment systems and states the maximum amount of
viable organisms that can be discharged into the sea. As a result, ships in international traffic must remove
or neutralise aquatic organisms and pathogens in their ballast water before letting it out into a new
location.
To stay compliant, each ship must always carry a ballast water management plan, a ballast water record
book and a valid international ballast water management certificate on board.
All ships must currently conform to at least the D-1 standard, while all new ships must abide by the D-2
regulations. However, all ships will eventually have to meet the D-2 standard, which requires installing a
type-approved ballast water management system to treat the ballast water.
According to the implementation schedule agreed upon by the IMO Member Governments, meeting in the
The main types of ballast water treatment technologies available in the
market are:
1) Filtration Systems (physical)
2) Chemical Disinfection ( oxidizing and non-oxidizing biocides)
3) Ultra-violet treatment
4) Deoxygenation treatment
5) Heat (thermal treatment)
6) Acoustic (cavitation treatment)
7) Electric pulse/pulse plasma systems
8) Magnetic Field Treatment
A typical ballast water treatment system onboard ships use two or more
technologies together to ensure that the treated ballast water is of IMO
standards.
Solid Ballast:
It is a high-density composite material specifically designed to meet the rigorous
demands of the marine industry. With its exceptional stability and strength, Perma
Ballast® ensures the safe and efficient operation of ships and offshore structures.
The primary purpose of solid ballast, typically placed in the lower part of a ship's hull
or in the base of an offshore structure, is to lower the center of gravity and improve
trim and stability.
Without solid ballast, some maritime structures would be top-heavy and unstable,
making the vessel more prone to capsizing or rolling over in extreme weather
conditions.
Solid ballast also helps to reduce the sway of a ship or offshore structure in the water,
making it safer and more comfortable for crew members and passengers on board.
Additionally, it can increase load capacity, allowing the Maritime structures to safely
carry more weight.
Assignment:
1) Which ships are required to have a Ballast Water Management
Plan?
2) What are the entries in the Ballast Water record Book?
3) What are the 3 methods of Ballast water exchange?
4) Explain the D1 and D2 standard for ballast water.
5) What are the different treatment systems available today?
6) State the depth and distance parameters to carry out Ballast water
exchange at sea.