A training seminar looking at the practical aspects of risk assessment and inventories of marine life in and around commercial ports, a concept also known as port biological baseline surveys (PBBS), took place in Kingston, Jamaica (21-22 September). Marine biologists, port state control officers and maritime authorities discussed the practical aspects of risk assessment and PBBS related to ballast water management (BWM) such as exemptions, ship targeting for compliance monitoring and enforcement (CME) or the development of decision support systems (DSS). The event was organized by IMO’s GloBallast project and the Maritime Authority of Jamaica. Antoine Blonce represented IMO.