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Entry into force of the amendments to Appendix II of the Annex to the BWM Convention on the format of the Ballast Water Record Book (BWRB)

Starting in 2025, two IMO resolutions come into effect specifying a new format for the ballast water record book (BWRB) and mandating approval of electronic BWRBs when replacing hard copy versions on board vessels. More about these new requirements for ballast water record-keeping and reporting in this statutory news.

This Technical Alert is issued by the Bahamas Maritime Authority (BMA) to provide information on the availability of revised Ballast Water Record Books in the format specified in amendments to the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments, 2004 (“Ballast Water Management/BWM Convention”).

Several resolutions and circulars related to amendments to the Ballast Water Management Convention were issued by the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) Marine Environment Protection Committee at its 80th Session (MEPC 80) held from 3 July to 7 July 2023 and its 81st Session (MEPC 81) held from 18 March to 22 March 2024.

The International Maritime Organisation has issued new guidance relating to the Ballast Water Management Convention, as follows:

MEPC.387(81)
This resolution offers interim guidance on the application of the BWM Convention to ships operating in challenging water quality conditions.

BWM.2/Circ.82
This circular provides guidance for the temporary storage of treated sewage and/or grey water in ballast water tanks.

At its 81st meeting in March 2024, the IMO MEPC adopted Resolution MEPC.387(81), with interim guidance for ships operating in challenging water quality conditions, and Circular BWM.2/Circ.82, with guidance on the temporary storage of treated sewage and/or grey water in ballast water tanks. This statutory news summarizes these topics, including how to re-approve an amended BWMP.

Ship owners/managers may want to modify the ballast water treatment systems (BWTS) installed on their vessels, such as upgrading the BWTS or making any other changes to the BWTS. This technical news provides guidance on such modifications and outlines what is required to obtain approval of modifications to a BWTS.

The eightieth session of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 80) was held from 3 to 7 July 2023.

Regulation B-2 of the BWM Convention requires that a ship shall have onboard a BWRB which shall at least contain the information specified in Appendix II to the Convention (Form of Ballast Water Record Book). The report on the experience-building phase associated with the BWM Convention indicated that the most frequently reported deficiencies by port States and port State control MOUs were related to the entries in the BWRB.

Exhaust gas cleaning systems (EGCS) – more commonly referred to as scrubbers – are an accepted equivalent measure in complying with the IMO 2020 global sulphur cap. The use of scrubbers has split the shipping industry. Ports around the world are looking at the impact of scrubber use in their waters.