Applicability: All ships that load and discharge ballast water

Please note: this Class News is a reissue and replaces the version sent on 10 January, 2014. The table has been amended to clarify the implementation dates for Regulation D-2 of the Ballast Water Management Convention.

The International Maritime Organization’s governing body, the Assembly, recently adopted Resolution A.1088(22) which adjusts the implementation schedule for the Ballast Water Management (BWM) Convention. The major changes are that:

  • all ships that are in service and under construction at the time that the Convention enters into force are considered to be existing ships
  • the BWM Convention renewal survey has been harmonised with the MARPOL IOPP renewal survey
  • references to compliance by the next “intermediate or renewal survey” have been changed to compliance by the next “renewal survey”.

The table below shows the adjusted implementation schedule, detailing the dates by which ships will be required to discharge ballast water in compliance with the D-2 discharge standard (i.e., using a ballast water treatment system). Note: as the Convention cannot be amended before it enters into force, the Resolution only recommends that administrations apply these changes. However once the Convention enters into force it is likely that these changes will quickly be mandated by an amendment to the Convention.

Once the Convention enters into force, all ships will also be required to have on board an approved ballast water management plan and ballast water record book.

Ballast capacity Existing ships
Constructed (keel laid) before 2009		 Existing ships
Constructed (keel laid) in or after 2009 but before 2012		 Existing ships
Constructed (keel laid)
in or after 2012
Less than 1,500m3

Entry into force (EIF) before 1 January, 2017: compliance by 1st IOPP renewal survey after the anniversary date of the delivery of the ship in 2016

EIF after 31 December, 2016: compliance by 1st IOPP renewal survey after EIF

 Compliance by 1st IOPP renewal survey after EIF Compliance by 1st IOPP renewal survey after EIF
Between 1,500m3
and 5,000m3		 Compliance by 1st IOPP renewal survey after EIF Compliance by 1st IOPP renewal survey after EIF Compliance by 1st IOPP renewal survey after EIF
Greater
than 5,000m3

EIF before 1 January, 2017: compliance by 1st IOPP renewal survey after the anniversary date of the delivery of the ship in 2016

EIF after 31 December, 2016: compliance by 1st IOPP renewal survey after EIF

EIF before 1 January, 2017: compliance by 1st IOPP renewal survey after the anniversary date of the delivery of the ship in 2016

EIF after 31 December, 2016: compliance by 1st IOPP renewal survey after EIF

 Compliance by 1st IOPP renewal survey after EIF

Support from Lloyd’s Register

Lloyd’s Register can provide tailored marine consulting services to help with all aspects of ballast water management. These include help with developing a BWM compliance strategy or selecting the most suitable ballast water treatment technologies and systems.

For further information 

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