**Executive Summary**
This document announces the entry into force of the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments (BWM Convention) on 8 September 2017. It outlines the requirements for ships to manage ballast water to prevent the spread of invasive aquatic species. Ships of 400gt and above are affected and need to comply with the regulations for Ballast Water Management.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Effective Date:** The BWM Convention enters into force on 8 September 2017.
* **Purpose:** To prevent the spread of invasive aquatic species through ships' ballast water.
* **Applicability:** The BWM Convention applies to all ships, including submersibles, floating craft, floating platforms, FSUs, and FPSOs, with some exceptions:
* Ships not designed to carry ballast water.
* Warships, naval auxiliary ships, or other ships owned or operated by a state.
* Ships only on non-commercial service.
* Ships with permanent ballast water in sealed tanks.
* **Requirements for Ships (400gt and above):**
* An approved Ballast Water Management Plan.
* A Ballast Water Record Book.
* If fitted with a Ballast Water Treatment System, a type approval certificate complying with IMO Guidelines (Resolution MEPC. 174(58)).
* An International Ballast Water Management Certificate or statement of compliance.
* **Implementation Schedule for D-2 Standard:** Compliance with the D-2 standard for vessels with keel laying date prior entry into force is aligned with the first International Oil Pollution Prevention (IOPP) renewal survey. Vessels with a keel laying date after entry into force are to be in compliance with the D-2 standard at delivery.
* **Survey and Certification:**
* Ships over 400 gt will be subjected to surveys and certification for the issuance of International Ballast Water Management Certificate or statement of compliance.
* An International Ballast Water Certificate will be issued to a ship whose flag has ratified the BWM Convention after an initial survey.
* A Ballast Water Management Certificate/Statement of Compliance will be issued for other ships.
* Both the Certificates and the Statement will be valid for five years subject to annual, intermediate and renewal surveys.
* **India's Status:** India is not a signatory to the Convention.
**Impact Analysis**
**Ship Owners/Operators**
* **Impact:** Must ensure their ships comply with the BWM Convention to operate legally.
* **Action Required:**
* Develop and implement an approved Ballast Water Management Plan.
* Maintain a Ballast Water Record Book.
* If using a treatment system, obtain a type approval certificate.
* Obtain an International Ballast Water Management Certificate or statement of compliance.
* Prepare the ship for surveys and certification.
* Comply with implementation schedules for D-2 standard.
**Flag States (that have ratified the BWM convention)**
* **Impact:** Responsible for ensuring ships flagged under their authority comply with the BWM Convention.
* **Action Required:**
* Conduct initial surveys and issue International Ballast Water Certificates to compliant ships.
**Flag States (that have not ratified the BWM convention)**
* **Impact:** Ensure their ships obtain a Ballast Water Management Certificate/Statement of Compliance
* **Action Required:**
* Issue a Ballast Water Management Certificate/Statement of Compliance after conducting surveys.
**International Maritime Organization (IMO)**
* **Impact:** The convention is under the purview of the IMO
* **Action Required:** N/A
Key Entities Referenced
Ballast Water Management Convention (BWM Convention): The International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments. It aims to prevent the spread of invasive aquatic species via ballast water.
International Maritime Organization (IMO): The United Nations specialized agency responsible for developing global standards for ship safety and security and for the protection of the marine environment.
Ballast Water Management Plan: A plan that must be approved and kept on board ships according to the BWM convention.
Resolution MEPC. 174(58): IMO Guidelines for the approval of ballast water management systems.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
Rrqft wd
MINISTRY OF StllPPlNG
DIRE TORATE GENRAL OF SHIPPING
Ballast Water Management Convention to enter into
force in 2017
Accession by Finland on 8 September 20t6, has triggered the entry into force of
The International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast
Water and Sediments (BWM Convention) will enter into force on 8 September
20L7.
The accession brings the combined tonnage of contracting States to the treaty to
35.L44t%, with 52 contracting Parties. The convention stipulates that it will enter
into force 12 months after ratification by a minimum of 30 States, representing
35% of world merchant shipping tonnage.
This convention deals with halting the spread of invasive aquatic species, which
can cause havoc for local ecosystems, affect biodiversity and lead to substantial
economic loss. Under the Convention's terms, ships will be required to manage
their ballast water to remove, render harmless, or avoid the uptake or discharge
of aquatic organisms and pathogens within bal'iast water and sediments
The BWM Convention was adopted in 2004 by the lnternational Maritime
Organization (lMO), the United Nations specialized agency with responsibility for
developing global standards for ship safety and security and for the protection of
the marine environment and the atmosphere from any harmful impacts of
shipping.
The BWM Convention will apply to all ships including submersibles, floating craft,
floating platforms, FSUs and FPSOs. lt will not apply to:
- Ships not designed to carry ballast water
- Warships, naval auxiliary ships or other ships owned or operated by a state
- Ships only on non-commercial service, or
- Ships with permanent ballast water in sealed tanksFrom 8 September 2017, all ships of 400gt and above will be required to have on
board:
-
An approved Ballast Water Management plan
-
A Ballast Water Record Book.
-
All ships fitted with Ballast wat€r treatment systems must have a type
approval certificate in compliance with the IMO Guidelines for the approval
of ballast water management systems (Resolution MEpc. 174(5g))
-
An International Ballast Water Management Certificate or statement of
compliance.
For vessels with a keel laying date prior entry into force of the BWM Convention,
the implementation schedule for compliance with the D-2(Ballast Water
Treatment) standard has been aligned with the first Internationat Oil pollution
Prevention (IOPP) renewal survey. Vessels with a keel laying date after entry into
force are to be in compliance with the D-2 standard at delivery.
Ballast Water Capacitv Keel Lavine Date Year and Applicable Standard
(m3) > 8-09-2017 < l't Rnwl >= 1't lopp Renewalsurvey
8-9-17
IOPP Survey after after 8-09-2017
< 1,500 or > 5,000 < 2009 Ballast Water Exchange Ballast Water Treatment
or Treatment Standards Standards only.
L,500<or35,000 <2009 Ballast Water Exchange Ballast Water Treatment
or Treatment Standards Standards only
> 8-09-2017 Ba llast Water Treatment Ba llast Water Treatment
Standards at delivery Standards at delivery
2009 < Keel Laying Ballast Water Exchange Ballast Water Treatment
Date< 8-09-2017 or Treatment Standards Sta ndards
2009 < Keel laying < Ballast Water Exchange Ballast Water Treatment
20L2 or Treatment Standards Standards only
2OL2< Keel laying < Ballast Water Exchange Ballast Water Treatment
EtF(8/s/20L7) or Treatment Standards Sta ndards
> EtF(8.09.2017) Ba llast Water Treatment Ba llast Water Treatment
Standards at de Standards at deliveryFor issuance of International Ballast Water Management Certificate or statement
of compliance, all ships over 400 gt will be subjected to surveys and certification.
On completion of an initial survey, an lnternational Ballast Water Certificate will
be issued to a ship whose flag has ratified the BWM Convention; for other ships, a
Ballast Water Management Certificate/Statement of Compliance will be issued.
Both the Certificates and the Statement will be valid for five years subject to
annual, intermediate and renewal surveys. India is still not a signatory to the
Convention.
\y{9
Vikrant Rai
"
Engineer & Ship Surveyor Cum DDG(Tech)