The convention requires all ships carrying ballast water, engaged in international voyages, to gradually phase in the installation of Ballast Water Management Systems (BWMS), which satisfy relevant ballast water exchange standards, carry approved ballast water management plans and appropriately maintain ballast water record books.
In addition to meeting BWMC requirements, the newly established Rules and Guidance for BWMS installations stands as a regulation requirement that incorporates expertise gained through IACS Unified Requirements, domestic law and ClassNK related affairs.
Furthermore, ships subject to the BWMC with a gross tonnage of 400 and above are now required to be surveyed and issued with an International Ballast Water Management Certificate to verify their compliance.
ClassNK also made amendments to Regulations for the classing and registering of ships regarding requirements of the installations characters (BWM), which gives authorisation to vessels, which meet this installation regulation.
At the same time, the US Coast Guard released a policy letter entitled ‘Guidelines for Voluntary Compliance with the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments, 2004.’
The USCG is establishing a voluntary inspection program for domestic flagged commercial vessel owners/operators who wish to document compliance with the standards of the IMO BWMC, the organisation said.
US flagged commercial vessels that operate on international routes (ie, those ships that will enter the ports of countries that are parties to the BWMC) are encouraged to participate.
The policy letter provides guidance to USCG marine inspectors, class societies (ACS) that are authorised to issue international convention certificates on behalf of the USCG in its capacity as the flag administration and US flagged vessel owners/operators concerning the requirements of the BWMC.
The US is not signatory to the BWMC and therefore the USCG cannot mandate compliance with the BWMC's requirements either for US flagged vessels or for foreign vessels operating on its navigable water. In contrast, parties to the BWMC are required to impose its requirements on all party and non-party vessels when calling at their ports.
US flagged vessels operating in a signatory’s waters should be prepared to demonstrate compliance with the BWMC or be at risk for Port State Control actions, including detention, the USCG said.
The IMO has produced a video describing the convention, plus an infographic.