Ballast Water

Key Legislation:

IMO Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments
Helsinki and OSPAR Commissions General Guidance on the Voluntary Interim application of the D1 Ballast Water Exchange Standard

For more detail on the Legislation relevant to this page, please use the following links:

Supporting Legislation:

Guidance:

International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water & Sediments. IMO have just (November 2014) circulated a list of ballast water management systems (PDF document) that make use of Active Substances which received Basic Approval from IMO.
IMO Guidelines for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water to Minimise The Transfer of Harmful Aquatic Organisms and Pathogens 1997. These guidelines have been adopted by a number of nations although implementation of these guidelines is entirely voluntary.
Maritime and Coastguard Agency – Ballast water management convention D2 implementation schedule table. This document is provided as a guide to the implementation schedule for the Ballast Water Management convention.
Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s MIN 569 – Ballast water management: this Marine Information Note provides details on where to find updated information regarding the Ballast Water Management Convention and its implementation within the UK.
Marine Guidance Note MGN81 (PDF document) – Guidelines for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water to Minimize the Transfer of Harmful Aquatic Organisms and Pathogens.
Marine Guidance Note MGN363 (PDF document) – The Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments. Should be read in conjunction with MGN81. This note draws attention to the developments at the International Maritime Organization with respect to non-indigenous species being transported in ships ballast water. This MGN has been written due to the adoption of an International Convention in February 2004, and the development of new supporting Guidelines. The MGN provides information and interim guidance for use until the Convention has been implemented and the UK ratifies the Convention, after developing domestic legislation. A Ballast Water Management Strategy for North West Europe is currently under development (see the Pending Legislation tab).

Consent Needed:	United Kingdom Oil Pollution Prevention Certificate (UKOPP) or IOPP Certificate required by all tankers > 150 GRT and all ships > 400 GRT. No consent requirements currently in place for management of introduced species from ballast water and sediments. However, see the Performance Standards tab.
How to Apply:	Vessel owner/operator must request the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) conduct a survey of oily water drainage and treatment systems; MCA then issue a certificate.
Who to Apply to:	Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).
When to Apply:	Certificate is first issued on vessel commissioning and then is renewable on a 5 yearly basis (seethe Renewal and Variation tab).

Segregated Ballast:

Crude oil tankers whose keel was laid after 1 January 1980 of >20,000 tonnes deadweight must have segregated ballast tanks and crude oil washing system in place for cargo tank cleaning. Older tankers of >40,000 tonnes deadweight must also have segregated ballast tanks/crude oil washing system in place.

Oily Discharges:

The discharge into the sea of oil or oily mixtures from a tanker is prohibited if the tanker is less than 50 nautical miles from land.

Ballast Water Management:

Compliance with the MCA Guidance (MGN81) is not at present legally required, but shipping agents and ship owners are strongly urged to ensure that vessel discharging ballast in UK waters comply with the Guidelines. The Guidelines set out requirements for ships including:

Each ship carrying ballast water should contain its own ship specific Ballast Water Management Plan. This should include an indication of records required, and the location of ballast sampling points.
It is recommended that each ship should have a designated responsible officer, in order to maintain necessary records and ensure that appropriate procedures are followed.
Ships should follow harbour ballast water guidelines.
Avoid uptake of ballast in darkness when bottom-dwelling organisms may rise up the water column.
Avoid uptake in very shallow water or where propellers may stir up sediment.
Carry out routine removal and appropriate disposal of ballast water sediment.
Avoid discharging ballast water when in harbour unless necessary.
If ballast is exchanged, use the most appropriate tanks to minimise risk of introductions (i.e. old ballast or ballast from environmentally disparate sites).

Oily Discharges:	Record all discharges, together with date, time and method of discharge, disposal route, any system failure and accidental oil spills, in the Oil Record Book.
Ballast Water:	Records are to be maintained of ballast water uptakes, discharges and exchanges as per the Ballast Water Management Plan.

Oily Discharges:	Regular reporting is not required, although backdated entries in the Oil Record Book must be maintained for at least 3 years. Inspections will be undertaken periodically to ensure compliance.
Ballast Water:	None.

Non-Compliance:

Non-compliance would constitute a breach of United Kingdom/International Oil Pollution Prevention Certificates requirements and might be discharge of oily water within a harbour area or failure to properly keep the Oil Record Book. If a discharge outside of legal requirements is made, then it should be recorded in the Oil Record Book which has to be kept available for inspection.

UKOPP/IOPP Certificate:

The Certificate must be renewed every 5 years, following inspection by the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS).

Ballast Water Management (BWM):	International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Report to the Marine Environment Protection Committee (PDF document – February 2014)A detailed report which includes topics such as: Guidelines for implementation of the BWM Convention Improved & new techniques for BWM systems & reduction of atmospheric pollution
International Convention for the Control and Management of Ship’s Ballast Water and Sediments	The Australian Government is introducing new ballast water management requirements under the Biosecurity Act (2015) for ships engaged in international voyages. Changes include ballast water exchanges to take place 12 nm from the coast or outer edge of the Great Barrier Reef or part of the Torres Strait. More details available here.
International Convention for the Control and Management of Ship’s Ballast Water and Sediments	Accession by Finland has triggered the entry into force of the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments (BWM Convention), a key international measure for environmental protection that aims to stop the spread of potentially invasive aquatic species in ships’ ballast water. The BWM Convention will enter into force on 8 September 2017.
MIN 544 (M+F) International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments 2004	Marine Information Note to provide details on the Ballast Water Management Convention and its implementation in the UK.
OSPAR/HELCOM Joint Task Group on Ballast Water Exemptions:	OSPAR and the Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission (HELCOM) (PDF document) are working together to develop joint guidelines for the granting of exemptions under the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) Convention on Ballast Water Management. The focus will be on developing common guidance on port surveys, target species selection, risk assessment methodologies and administrative procedures.
OSPAR and HELCOM release online ballast water risk assessment tool	The new online tool includes several improvements from the July 2014 version and allows users to identify routes that may be exempt from ballast water management for ships based on departure and destination ports.