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Amendments to the Implementation of the Ballast Water Management Convention adopted during MEPC 72nd session

Amendments to the BWM Convention adopted MEPC 72 adopted amendments to the BWM Convention, which were approved at the last session. The amendments will enter into force on 13 October 2019.

The amendments relate to the implementation of the treaty, including the schedule for ships to comply with the requirement to meet the so-called D-2 standard (amendments to section B). In accordance with resolution MEPC. 287(71), Parties to the BWM Convention have already implemented the schedule for compliance outlined in the amendments since the entry into force of the BWM Convention.

Other amendments (to sections A and D) make mandatory the Code for approval of ballast water management systems, which was also adopted at the session. Further amendments relate to section E on survey and certification.

Since the date of entry into force, ships have been required to manage their ballast water to avoid the transfer of potentially invasive aquatic species. All ships must have a ballast water management plan and keep a ballast water record book. Ships are required to manage their ballast water to meet either the D-1 ballast water exchange standard or the D-2 performance standard, which specifies maximum limits for the discharge of viable organisms as well as specified indicator microbes harmful to human health.

Experience-building phase With the BWM Convention's entry into force, and the adoption of a first set of amendments, there is now increased emphasis on its effective implementation and enforcement.

The experience-building phase (EBP), established through resolution MEPC.290(71), will enable port States, flag States and other stakeholders to gather, prepare and submit data, the analysis of which will allow a systematic and evidence-based review of the requirements of the Convention and the development of a package of amendments to the Convention as appropriate.

MEPC 72 approved the Data gathering and analysis plan for the experience-building phase associated with the BWM Convention (BWM.2/Circ.67), which sets out the specific arrangements for data gathering during the EBP (including the interfaces through which data may be submitted to the EBP and the specific data requirements for each interface), as well as principles and organizational arrangements for analysing the data collected, and the timeline for the EBP.

Guidance for uniform implementation of the BWM Convention The MEPC approved the following circulars: Unified Interpretation of Appendix I (Form of the International Ballast Water Management Certificate) of the BWM Convention (BWM.2/Circ.66); revised Guidance on scaling of ballast water management systems (BWM.2/Circ.33/Rev.1); and revised Guidance for Administrations on the type approval process for ballast water management systems (BWM.2/Circ.43/Rev.1).

The 72nd session of the IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC72)

IMO – the International Maritime Organization

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IMO – the International Maritime Organization – is the United Nations specialized agency with responsibility for the safety and security of shipping and the prevention of marine pollution by ships.

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At the 72nd session of the IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC72) Shipping and Climate Summit,…

Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC), 72nd session at IMO Headquarters in London

From 9-13 April the 72nd session of the MEPC is being held at IMO Headquarters in London. One of the highlights of this session is the Implementation of the Ballast Water Management Convention

The International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments, 2004 (BWM Convention), entered into force in September 2017 and has, to date, been ratified by 69 countries, representing 75.11% of world merchant shipping tonnage.

Adoption of amendments to the BWM Convention MEPC 72 is expected to adopt amendments to the BWM Convention, which were approved at the last session. The draft amendments relate to the implementation of the treaty, including the schedule for ships to comply with the requirement to meet the so-called D-2 standard (draft amendments to section B). Other draft amendments (to sections A and D) make mandatory the Code for approval of ballast water management systems, which will also be adopted at the session. Further draft amendments relate to section E on survey and certification.

Since the date of entry into force, ships have been required to manage their ballast water to avoid the transfer of potentially invasive species. All ships must have a ballast water management plan and keep a ballast water record book. Ships are required to manage their ballast water to meet the D-1 ballast water exchange standard; or the D-2 standard, which requires ballast water management to restrict to a specified maximum the amount of viable organisms allowed to be discharged and to limit the discharge of specified indicator microbes harmful to human health.

Experience-building phase With the BWM Convention's entry into force, and the approval of a first set of amendments at MEPC 71, there is now increased emphasis on its effective implementation and enforcement. The experience-building phase, (established through a resolution adopted at MEPC 71 (MEPC.290(71)), will enable port States, flag States and other stakeholders to gather, prepare and submit data, the analysis of which will allow a systematic and evidence-based review of the requirements of the Convention and the development of a package of amendments to the Convention as appropriate. MEPC 72 is expected to finalize the associated data gathering and analysis plan.

Guidance for uniform implementation of the BWM Convention As at every session, the MEPC will consider the development or revision of various guidelines and guidance documents. MEPC 72 is expected to, inter alia, finalize and approve revised guidance on scaling of ballast water management systems (BWMS) and on the type approval process for BWMS; consider matters related to surveys under the BWM Convention following the incorporation of the Interim Survey Guidelines under the BWM Convention into the Harmonized System for Survey and Certification; and consider the application of the BWM Convention to certain specialized ship types. MEPC 72 will also consider whether to review the Procedure for approval of ballast water management systems that make use of Active Substances (G9).