Implementing the Ballast Water Management Convention

The Ballast Water Management Convention or BWM Convention (full name International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments, 2004) is a treaty adopted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in order to help prevent the spread of potentially harmful aquatic organisms and pathogens in ships' ballast water.

From 8 September 2017, ships must manage their ballast water so that aquatic organisms and pathogens are removed or rendered harmless before the ballast water is released into a new location. This will help prevent the spread of invasive species as well as potentially harmful pathogens.

IMO is the United Nations specialized agency with responsibility for developing global standards for ship safety and security and for the protection of the marine environment and the atmosphere from any harmful impacts of shipping.

The BWM Convention entered into force globally on 8 September 2017.

The convention applies to ships registered under contracting Parties to the BWM Convention, which take up and use ballast water during international voyages.

Such ships may not be issued with the relevant certificates. However, port States which are Parties will expect the ships to comply with the requirements of the Convention, so as to ensure no more favourable treatment is given to such ships.

From the date of entry into force, ships in international traffic are required to manage their ballast water and sediments to a certain standard, according to a ship-specific ballast water management plan. Ships have to carry:

There are two ballast water management standards (D-1 and D-2).

The D-1 standard requires ships to exchange their ballast water in open seas, away from coastal areas. Ideally, this means at least 200 nautical miles from land and in water at least 200 metres deep. By doing this, fewer organisms will survive and so ships will be less likely to introduce potentially harmful species when they release the ballast water. 

The D-2 standard specifies the maximum amount of viable organisms allowed to be discharged, including specified indicator microbes harmful to human health. 

From the date of entry into force of the BWM Convention, all ships must conform to at least the D-1 standard; and all new ships, to the D-2 standard. 

Eventually, all ships will have to conform to the D-2 standard. For most ships, this involves installing special equipment to treat the ballast water. 

IMO Member Governments, meeting in the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC), have agreed an implementation timetable for existing ships, linked to the ship's International Oil Pollution Prevention Certificate (IOPPC) renewal survey.

In essence, the schedule for implementation which has been agreed by the MEPC means that compliance with the D-2 standard will be phased in over time for individual ships, up to 8 September 2024. Over time, more and more ships will be compliant with the D-2 standard. (See the infographic)

The ship should meet the D-2 standard at a date determined by its flag State, but not later than 8 September 2024.

The difference is that D-1 relates to ballast water exchange, while D-2 specifies the maximum amount of viable organisms allowed to be discharged, including specified indicator microbes harmful to human health.

D-1 standard - The D-1 standard requires ships to conduct an exchange of ballast water such that at least 95% of water by volume is exchanged far away from the coast.

D-2 standard - The D-2 standard specifies that ships can only discharge ballast water that meets the following criteria:

Ships may be subject to port State control in any port or offshore terminal of a Party to the BWM Convention. This inspection may include verifying that there is onboard a valid Certificate and an approved ballast water management plan; inspection of the ballast water record book; and/or sampling of the ship’s ballast water, carried out in accordance with the Guidelines for ballast water sampling (G2).

However, the time required to analyse the samples shall not be used as a basis for unduly delaying the operation, movement or departure of the ship.

Regulation D-3 of the Convention covers approval requirements for ballast water management systems.

Ballast water management systems must be approved by the Administration taking into account IMO Guidelines. Revised Guidelines for approval of ballast water management systems (G8) were adopted in 2016 and have now been reworked as a draft mandatory Code for approval of ballast water management systems (BWMS Code), expected to be adopted by MEPC 72 in April 2018. The BWMS Code includes robust test and performance specifications as well as detailed requirements for type approval reporting and control and monitoring equipment.

Ballast water management systems which make use of Active Substances or preparations containing one or more Active Substances must in addition be approved by IMO, in accordance with the Procedure for approval of ballast water management systems that make use of Active Substances (G9).

Entry into force of the treaty was dependent on enough ratifications by States. It is fair to say that suitable ballast water management systems were not immediately available and guidelines to support the BWM convention needed to be developed. But these issues have now been addressed.

To support ratification by States as well as research and innovation, IMO executed the Global Environment Facility (GEF) - United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) -IMO GloBallast Partnerships Programme (2000-2017). This successful project focussed in particular on assisting developing countries to reduce the transfer of harmful aquatic organisms and pathogens in ships’ ballast water and implement the BWM Convention.

The BWM Convention stipulated that it would enter into force 12 months after ratification by a minimum of 30 States, representing 35% of world merchant shipping tonnage. Those criteria were reached on 8 September 2016, hence the entry into force on 8 September 2017.

The MEPC 72 session in April 2018 adopted amendments to the BWM treaty (regulation B-3) to make mandatory the new phase-in schedule for ships to meet the D-2 standard.

Also, MEPC 72 adopted amendments to the BWM Convention (regulations A-1 and D-3) to make mandatory the Code for approval of ballast water management systems (BWMS Code). The BWMS Code was also adopted. Further amendments relate to section E (Survey and certification).

The amendments could only be adopted after entry into force. So the proposed amendments were circulated to Governments and were put forward for adoption by MEPC 72 in April 2018. They will enter into force 18 months following adoption. MEPC 71 (July 2017) also adopted a resolution calling for the schedule in the amendments to be implemented immediately.

The MEPC has recognized that challenges may be expected with the entry into force of an entirely new treaty. There may be a need for future improvements to the BWM Convention in the light of experience gained. MEPC 71 adopted an important MEPC resolution, on “the experience-building phase associated with the BWM Convention”.

This envisages a three-stage approach – data gathering; data analysis; and Convention review. Based on the experience and feedback gained, as well as the analysis of the data gathered, draft amendments to the Convention could be put forward for consideration at MEPC 79 (in 2022).

As with other international treaties, Parties may also propose individual amendments at any time.

As at September 2017, the treaty has been ratified by more than 60 countries, representing more than 70% of world merchant shipping tonnage.

This envisages a three-stage approach – data gathering; data analysis; and Convention review. Based on the experience and feedback gained, as well as the analysis of the data gathered, draft amendments to the Convention could be put forward for consideration at MEPC 79 (in 2022).