**Executive Summary**
This circular announces a Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) on Ballast Water Management (BWM) to be conducted by various MOUs from September 1st, 2025, to November 30th, 2025. The CIC aims to verify vessel compliance with BWM requirements. Deficiencies found during the CIC have a high probability of being treated as detainable deficiencies.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC):**
* A targeted effort by Port State Control (PSC) authorities focusing on specific areas of maritime safety and compliance related to BWM.
* Indian Ocean MOU, Tokyo MOU, and Paris MOU (Riyadh MOU also expected to join) will participate.
* Will take place from September 1st, 2025, to November 30th, 2025.
* Deficiencies found on Ballast Water Management Systems during this period have a high probability of being treated as Detainable deficiencies.
* **Objectives of the CIC:**
* Verify compliance with BWM requirements.
* Confirm crew familiarity with BWM operations.
* Confirm the availability of an approved BWM Plan.
* Ensure the BWM system is operational in its entirety.
* Ensure BW Record Book updation.
* Verify sediment management.
* Verify valid exemptions.
* **Key Areas of Focus for PSC Inspectors:**
* Validity of the International Ballast Water Management Certificate (IBWMC) or SOC.
* Availability and approval of the Ballast Water Management Plan (BWMP).
* BWMP is up-to-date with Convention requirements.
* Familiarity of officers and crew with BWMP implementation.
* Approval of the Ballast Water Management System (BWMS) / Ballast water Treatment System (BWTS).
* Verification of ballast water management according to the BWMP.
* Operational status of the BWMS/BWTS.
* Verification of proper filling of the Ballast Water Record Book (BWRB), including exemptions.
* Management of ballast water sediments.
* Implementation of exemption conditions, if granted.
* **Actions Required by Indian Flag Vessel Owners/Operators:**
* Review and verify BWM certification and plans are current and available on board.
* Test the BWTS for operational readiness and resolve any issues immediately.
* Ensure BWTS crew training and familiarization is up to date.
* Conduct self-inspection or internal audit based on CIC checklists (IOMOU Checklist attached as Annexure 1).
* Ensure accurate and up-to-date entries in BWRB.
* Maintain sufficient spare parts and manufacturer's manual for BWTS equipment on board.
* **Directions to Indian Flag Vessel Owners/Operators and Flag State Surveyors:**
* Ensure vessels are prepared and crew is trained for the CIC.
* Requests for dispensations during the CIC will not be entertained without valid justification and Port State concurrence.
* Detentions due to BWMC deficiencies will be viewed seriously.
* Non-compliance may result in delays, penalties, or restrictions.
* Flag State/RO Surveyors to verify compliance during inspections, especially for vessels trading abroad.
* **Gazette Notification:**
* The Government of India has notified the Merchant Shipping Act, 2025, incorporating the Ballast Water Management Convention into National Legislation, via Gazette Notification dated August 18th, 2025.
**Impact Analysis**
**Indian Flag Vessel Owners/Operators**
* **Impact:** Increased scrutiny of BWM compliance by Port State Control during the CIC. Potential for delays, penalties, or detentions due to non-compliance.
* **Action Required:** Review BWM procedures, ensure proper training of crew, verify BWTS operational readiness, conduct self-inspections, and maintain accurate records.
**Flag State Surveyors**
* **Impact:** Need to verify vessel compliance with BWMC requirements during Flag State Inspections, General Inspections, and Statutory Surveys.
* **Action Required:** Verify with Master whether vessel will be trading abroad or intends to trade abroad during the CIC period and verify the status of compliance of the vessel to BWMC requirements and any non-compliance to be brought to the attention of the Directorate immediately.
**Principal Officer/ Mercantile Marine Department, Mumbai/Kolkata/ Chennai/Kandla/Kochi**
* **Impact:** Oversight of the implementation of the CIC and its impact on Indian-flagged vessels.
* **Action Required:** Monitor vessel compliance, address any issues arising from CIC inspections, and ensure proper enforcement of BWM regulations.
**Surveyor-in-charge, Mercantile Marine Department, Goa/Jamnagar/Port Blair/Visakhapatnam /Tuticorin /Noida /Haldia/ Paradip /Mangalore**
* **Impact:** Coordinate and execute the CIC inspections within their respective areas of responsibility.
* **Action Required:** Conduct thorough inspections, identify deficiencies, and take appropriate enforcement actions.
Key Entities Referenced
Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC): A targeted effort by Port State Control (PSC) authorities to focus on specific areas of maritime safety and compliance. This particular CIC focuses on Ballast Water Management.
Ballast Water Management Convention (BWMC): An international convention aimed at preventing the spread of invasive aquatic species and pathogens via ballast water.
Merchant Shipping Act, 2025: The Indian legislation that incorporates the Ballast Water Management Convention into National Legislation.
Directorate General of Shipping, Mumbai: The issuer of the circular regarding the Concentrated Inspection Campaign on Ballast Water Management.
Indian Ocean MOU, Tokyo MOU, Paris MOU: Organizations participating in the Concentrated Inspection Campaign on Ballast Water Management.
DGS Engineering Wing Circular No. 34 of 2025
File No. :13-41011/1/2020-ENGG - DGS (C-1765) Date: 25.08.2025
Subject : Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) on Ballast Water Management
by various MOU’s from 1st September 2025 to 30th November 2025.
1. Background
A Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) is a targeted effort by Port State Control (PSC) authorities
to focus on specific areas of maritime safety and compliance where higher risks of deficiencies or
non-compliance are identified. This could be evidenced by the number of deficiencies encountered,
accidents or where new convention requirements have recently entered into force. These campaigns
involve a more in-depth inspection of vessels, typically lasting for a defined period (e.g., three
months) and focusing on a particular theme or set of regulations.
2. Ballast Water Management Convention (BWMC)
The BWM Convention entered into force on 8 September 2017. The primary objective of this
convention is to combat the spread of invasive alien species and pathogens by mandating that ships
effectively remove or neutralise any water-borne organisms and pathogens present in ballast water
before its release elsewhere. The BWM Convention serves as a vital tool in protecting marine
ecosystems and reducing the ecological risks associated with ballast water discharge. It emphasizes
the need for ships to employ approved Ballast Water Management Systems (BWMS) or alternative
measures to achieve compliance with the Convention’s standards.
3. Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) on Ballast Water Management
Indian Ocean MOU, Tokyo MOU, and Paris MOU (Riyadh MOU also expected to Join the CIC) have
announced a Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) focused on Ballast Water Management
(BWM). The campaign is scheduled to run from 1 September 2025 to 30 November 2025. During this
period, vessels will be subject to detailed inspections concerning compliance with the IMO Ballast
Water Management Convention (BWMC), 2004. Deficiencies found on Ballast Water Management
Systems during this period have a high probability of being treated as Detainable deficiencies.
DGS Engineering Wing Circular No. 34 of 2025
Page 1 of 34. Objectives of Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC)
The primary objective of the CIC is to:
• Verify that vessels comply with BWM requirements.
• Confirm crew familiarity with BWM operations.
• Confirm availability of approved BWM Plan
• BWM system operational in entirety
• BW Record book updation
• Sediment Management
• Valid exemptions
5. Key Areas of Focus
Port State Control Inspectors will typically verify the following:
5.1 Availability of valid International Ballast Water Management Certificate (IBWMC) or SOC
on board.
5.2 Availability of approved Ballast Water Management Plan (BWMP) on board.
5.3 BWMP up to date to reflect the applicable requirements to manage Ballast Water as
required by the Convention.
5.4 Familiarity of officers and crew with their duties in the implementation of the BWMP.
5.5 Approval of the Ballast Water Management System (BWMS) / Ballast water Treatment
System (BWTS) by the Administration/Organization, as appropriate.
5.6 Verification of management of the Ballast Water according to the BWMP.
5.7 Operational status of the BWMS/BWTS.
5.8 Verification of the Ballast Water Record Book (BWRB) being properly filled, including
exemptions if granted.
5.9 Management of ballast water sediments in accordance with the BWMP.
5.10 If an exemption has been granted, are the conditions of exemption implemented.
6. Actions Required by Indian Flag Vessel Owners/Operators
All Indian-flagged vessels calling at foreign ports are directed to:
6.1. Review and verify that BWM certification and plans are current and available on board.
6.2 Test the BWTS for operational readiness and resolve any known issues immediately.
6.3 Ensure BWTS crew training and familiarization is up to date, especially those responsible
for ballast operations.
6.4 Conduct a self-inspection or internal audit based on typical CIC checklists (IOMOU
Checklist attached as Annexure 1)
6.5 Ensure entries in BWRB are accurate and up to date, including position, volume, and
method of treatment.
6.6 Maintain sufficient spare parts and manufacturer's manual for BWTS equipment on
board.
7. Directions to Indian Flag Vessel Owners/Operators and Flag State Surveyors
7.1 All stakeholders are advised ensure that their vessels are prepared in all respects and
crew trained appropriately to undergo the CIC at various foreign ports of the participating
MOU’s.
7.2 Any requests for dispensations from the requirements of the BWMC during the period
DGS Engineering Wing Circular No. 34 of 2025
Page 2 of 3of the CIC (1 September 2025 to 30 November 2025) will not be entertained if vessel is plying
in foreign ports without valid justification and concurrence of the Port States Involved.
7.3 Detentions of vessels due to deficiencies or non compliance with BWMC requirements
will be viewed with utmost seriousness by DGS.
7.4 Non-compliance may result in delays, penalties, or restrictions on ship operations and
Immediate attention is requested by stakeholders to ensure vessels are well prepared ahead
of the CIC commencement.
7.5 During Flag State Inspections/ General Inspections/ Statutory Surveys all Flag State/RO
Surveyors are requested to verify with Master whether vessel will be trading abroad or
intends to trade abroad during the CIC period and verify the status of compliance of the
vessel to BWMC requirements and any non-compliance to be brought to the attention of
the Directorate immediately.
8. All Stakeholders are also hereby intimated that the Government of India vide Gazette
Notification dated 18th August 2025 has notified the Merchant Shipping Act, 2025
incorporating the Ballast Water Management Convention into National Legislation.
This is issued with the approval of the Competent Authority.
(Aniruddha Chaki)
Dy. Chief Surveyor-cum-Sr. DDG(Tech.)
Enclosed:
Annexure-I : IOMOU Checklist for CIC on Ballast Water Management
To,
1. The Principal Officer/ Mercantile Marine Department, Mumbai/Kolkata/ Chennai/
Kandla/Kochi.
2. The Surveyor-in-charge, Mercantile Marine Department, Goa/Jamnagar/Port Blair
/Visakhapatnam /Tuticorin /Noida /Haldia/ Paradip /Mangalore.
3. All Recognised Organizations.
4. Indian National Ship-owners’ Association (INSA), Mumbai.
5. CS/NA (I/C)/CSS (I/C)
6. Hindi Cell with request to provide Hindi translation.
7. Computer Cell with request to upload on DGS website
DGS Engineering Wing Circular No. 34 of 2025
Page 3 of 3ANNEXURE- I
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING CONCENTRATED INSPECTION CAMPAIGN
ON PORT STATE CONTROL
ON BALLAST WATER MANAGEMENT
IN THE INDIAN OCEAN REGION
01/09/2025 to 30/11/2025
CIC ON BALLAST WATER MANAGEMENT
Inspection Authority
Ship Name IMO No.
Date of Inspection Inspection Port
No. QUESTIONS Yes No N/A Detention
Q.1* Is a valid International Ballast Water Management
Certificate (IBWMC) on board?
(01136 - BWM 2004 / Reg. E-2)
Q.2* Is the approved Ballast Water Management Plan
(BWMP) on board?
(14801- BWM 2004 / Reg. B-1)
Q.3* Is the BWMP up to date to reflect the applicable
requirements to manage Ballast Water as
required by the Convention?
(14801-BWM 2004 / Reg. B-1)
Q.4* Are officers and crew familiar with their duties in the
implementation of the BWMP?
(14806 - BWM 2004 / Reg.B-6)
Q.5* Is the Ballast Water Management System (BWMS)
approved by the Administration/Organization, as
appropriate?
(14812 – BWM 2004 / Reg. D-3 or BWMS Code
Section 4)
Q.6* Is the BWMS operational?
(14811 – BWM 2004 / Reg. D-2 or BWMS Code
Section 4
Q.7 Was the Ballast Water managed according to the
BWMP?
(14813- BWM 2004 / Reg. B-1)
Q.8 Is the Ballast Water Record Book (BWRB) properly
filled including exemptions if granted?
(14802- BWM 2004 / Reg. B-2 & Reg. A-4.4)
Q.9* Is the crew managing Ballast Water sediments in
accordance with the BWMP?
(14805 - BWM 2004 / Reg. B-5)
Q.10* If an exemption has been granted, are the conditions
of exemption implemented?
(14809 – BWM 2004 / Reg. A-4)
Note:
“*”
• If “No” is ticked for questions marked with an asterisk the ship may be considered for detention
• Question no. 10, If no Exemption granted, the answer to this question to be “NA”.