Marshall Islands issues notice for ballast water management

The Republic of the Marshall Islands Maritime Administrator has issued a marine notice regarding ballast water management.

The notice was published on April 1st, 2023.

This Marine Notice establishes the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) Maritime Administrator (the “Administrator”) requirements for implementing the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments (BWM Convention).

This Notice supersedes Rev. Oct/2022. It has been amended to include IMO Circular BWM.2/Circ.66/Rev.4, which provides the updated, consolidated text of all existing unified interpretations to the BWM Convention.

Accompanying guidance on definitions, ballast water exchange (BWE), ballast water management plans (BWMP), and ballast water management (BWM) with respect to offshore operations, yachts, and coastal States can be found in RMI Marine Guideline 2-14-1.

This Notice applies to all RMI-flagged vessels in accordance with Article 3 of the BWM Convention. Vessels to which the BWM Convention does not apply are summarized as those that:

are not designed or constructed to carry ballast water;
only operate in RMI waters;
only operate in waters under the jurisdiction of another Party, subject to the authorization of that Party of such exclusion;
only operate under the jurisdiction of one Party and on the high seas; or
carry in sealed tanks permanent ballast water that is not subject to discharge

The Notice provides details for:

Exemptions, Exceptions, and Equivalent Compliance

Ballast Water Management Plan–Regulation B-1

Ballast Water Management for Ships -Regulation B-3

Ballast Water Management System

Commissioning Testing

Ballast Water Management System Failures

Training and Education

Ballast Water Record Book–Regulation B-2

IBWM Certificate

Special Requirements in Certain Areas

Port State Control