Ballast Water Management, Understanding BWM for Regulatory Compliance - 17th Edition

Product Description

The 17th edition has been fully revised to reflect current requirements in the management of ballast water since the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments (BWM Convention) entered into force.

To assist ship owners with BWM Convention compliance, the book is divided into two useful volumes: Volume 1 - Regulations, Operations and Compliance and Volume 2 - BWM Systems. As well as regulatory guidance, Volume 1 includes valuable practical considerations relating to Ballast Water Management System (BWMS) selection, installation/retrofitting, onboard operation (including dealing with challenging water quality), maintenance, monitoring and reporting. Volume 2 is a thorough compilation of standardised information for BWMS that have been type approved for use on board ships.

Since 8th September 2024, all ships to which the BWM Convention applies have had to comply with the Convention's ballast water discharge standard (D-2). For most ships, this has involved installing and operating a BWMS on board. This comprehensive, two-volume publication provides up-to-date guidance on BWM regulations, operations (including Port State Control (PSC) requirements) and equipment options. It is a valuable, single-point source of information for ship owners and operators.

In Volume 1, the publication looks in detail at the various treatment systems and technologies, significant components and the implications for onboard operation, maintenance and contingency measures. With the end of the implementation period for fitting a BWMS to existing ships, there is a shift from retrofitting to installing on newbuilds, replacement retrofits and fulfilling maintenance/servicing agreements. However, retrofit experience remains an important consideration as there will also be a growing market for fully or partly replacing older (legacy) BWMS or systems that are not operating properly.

The BWM Convention has been fully in effect for seven years, and the experience-building phase (EBP) is expected to continue until the entry into force of the package of priority amendments, which is likely to be in autumn 2028. PSC have also increased inspections to promote consistent implementation of the BWM Convention requirements. The preliminary results of a concentrated inspection campaign (CIC) in 2025 by several PSC memoranda of understanding (MoU) found that one of the main deficiencies was in the operability of the BWMS on board the inspected ships. This emphasises that proper maintenance of the BWMS is a key factor in compliance with the Convention.

The EBP was designed to allow the MEPC to monitor implementation of the BWM Convention over time and highlight areas that need further attention. The BWM Convention is undergoing a thorough review, which is well underway, with many amendments already agreed upon. This includes a comprehensive update to the Guidelines for ballast water management and development of ballast water management plans (G4)

Volume 2 provides an extensive set of data sheets on BWMS that have been type approved through the BWM Convention testing procedures. These summarise the treatment technology, type approval certification and system design limitations (SDL), so that ship owners can evaluate different systems and make an informed decision before purchasing. It is particularly important to know the SDL of a BWMS since these are the conditions and parameters under which the system is approved to operate.

The Appendices contain an updated list of IMO Guidance Documents for the BWM Convention (updated to MEPC 83). They also describe key invasive species and illustrate native and invasive geographic ranges.