Ballast water: MEPC.370(80) and MEPC.371(80) adopted

The International Maritime Organization Marine Environment Protection Committee has adopted resolutions MEPC.370(80) and MEPC.371(80).

MEPC.370(80): Amendments to the Guidelines for Ballast Water Management and Development of Ballast Water Management Plans (G4) (Resolution MEPC.127(53), as Amended by Resolution MEPC.306(73))

Foreword

The Marine Environment Protection Committee, recalling Article 38(a) of the Convention on the International Maritime Organization concerning the functions of the Marine Environment Protection Committee conferred upon it by international conventions for the prevention and control of marine pollution from ships,

Recalling also that the International Conference on Ballast Water Management for Ships held in February 2004 adopted the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments, 2004 (the Ballast Water Management Convention) together with four Conference resolutions,

Noting that regulation A-2 of the Ballast Water Management Convention requires that discharge of ballast water shall only be conducted through ballast water management in accordance with the provisions of the Annex to the Convention,

Noting also that regulation B-1 of the Annex to the Ballast Water Management Convention provides that each ship shall have on board and implement a Ballast Water Management Plan approved by the Administration, taking into account Guidelines developed by the Organization,

Noting further that, at its fifty-third session, it adopted, by resolution MEPC.127(53), the Guidelines for ballast water management and development of Ballast Water Management Plans (G4),

Noting that, at its seventy-third session, it adopted, by resolution MEPC.306(73), amendments to the Guidelines (G4),

Having considered, at its eightieth session, proposed further amendments to the Guidelines (G4),

Adopts amendments to the Guidelines for ballast water management and development of Ballast Water Management Plans (G4), as set out in the annex to the present resolution;

Invites Governments to apply the Guidelines, as amended, as soon as possible;

Agrees to keep the Guidelines, as amended, under review.

Annex

Paragraph 2.1.2 of part A of the Guidelines for ballast water management and the development of Ballast Water Management Plans (G4) (resolution MEPC.127(53), amended by resolution MEPC.306(73)) is amended as follows:

"2.1.2 When carrying out any ballast water operation the details are to be recorded in the Ballast Water Record Book together with any exemptions granted in accordance with regulation B-3 or C-1. In recording these operations and exemptions, the Guidance on ballast water record-keeping and reporting (BWM.2/Circ.80, as may be amended) should be taken into account."

A new paragraph 2.1.2bis is inserted into part A of the Guidelines for ballast water management and the development of Ballast Water Management Plans (G4) (resolution MEPC.127(53), amended by resolution MEPC.306(73)) as follows:

"2.1.2bis Where a port State requires specific information regarding the management of ballast water on a ship bound for a port, offshore terminal or anchorage area in that port State, a completed ballast water reporting form (BWRF) as set out in the Guidance on ballast water record-keeping and reporting (BWM.2/Circ.80, as may be amended) may be submitted prior to entry into that port State in a time frame required by that port State. Keeping records on a tank-by-tank basis, while not mandatory, may facilitate the completion of a BWRF. An example form for maintaining voluntary tank-by-tank records is annexed to the Guidance on ballast water record-keeping and reporting."

MEPC.371(80): Amendments to the 2017 Guidelines for Ballast Water Exchange (G6) (Resolution MEPC.288(71))

Foreword

Recalling also that the International Conference on Ballast Water Management for Ships held in February 2004 adopted the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments, 2004 (the Convention) together with four Conference resolutions,

Noting that regulation A-2 of the Convention requires that discharge of ballast water shall only be conducted through ballast water management in accordance with the provisions of the Annex to the Convention,

Noting also that regulation B-4 of the Annex to the Convention addresses the conditions under which ballast water exchange should be conducted, taking into account Guidelines developed by the Organization,

Noting further that, at its fifty-third session, it adopted, by resolution MEPC.124(53), the Guidelines for ballast water exchange (G6) and resolved to keep them under review,

Noting that, having considered draft revised Guidelines (G6), at its seventy-first session, it adopted, by resolution MEPC.288(71), the 2017 Guidelines for ballast water exchange (G6),

Having considered, at its eightieth session, proposed amendments to the 2017 Guidelines (G6),

Adopts amendments to the 2017 Guidelines for ballast water exchange (G6) as set out in the annex to this resolution;

Invites Governments to apply the Guidelines, as amended, as soon as possible;

Agrees to keep the Guidelines, as amended, under review.

Annex

Paragraph 3.4 of the 2017 Guidelines for ballast water exchange (G6) (resolution MEPC.288(71)) is amended as follows:

"3.4 Where a port State requires specific information regarding the management of ballast water on a ship bound for a port, offshore terminal or anchorage area in that port State, a completed ballast water reporting form as set out in the ~~appendix~~ Guidance on ballast water record-keeping and reporting (BWM.2/Circ.80, as may be amended) may be submitted prior to entry into that port State in a time frame required by that port State."

The appendix to the 2017 Guidelines for ballast water exchange (G6) (resolution MEPC.288(71)) is deleted.

Both resolutions were adopted on 7 July 2023.

For more information, please see the documents below (available only to subscribers):