Technical Circular No: 012/2019
Download PDF- The International Maritime Organization (IMO) vide Resolution, MEPC. 306(73) adopted amendments to the Guidelines for Ballast Water Management and Development of Ballast Water Management Plans (G4).
- The amendments requires Ballast Water Management Plans to include contingency measures in case a ship is unable to manage ballast water in accordance with its approved Ballast Water Management Plan to meet the D-1 or D-2 standard.
- Based on above, DGS, GOI has provided following requirements in respect of BWM Plans for GOI flagged ships:
a. Ballast Water Management System meeting D-2 standards already fitted on ships to include contingency measures prior next Annual/ Intermediate / Renewal surveys.
(Compliance to above requirement will be verified at the next Annual / Intermediate / Renewal BWMC survey whichever comes first)
b. New Ballast Water Management System meeting D-2 standards to include contingency measures during re-approval of BWM Plan while the system meeting D-2 standard is fitted.
- The Ballast Water Management Plans to include contingency measures taking into account the “Guidance on contingency measures under the BWM Convention” published as BWM.2/Circ.62 and must include atleast the following:
a. Information to Port State and Flag State.
b. Permission from Port State or Directorate General of Shipping (Indian / Foreign Ships in India) for discharging Ballast Water meeting D-1 standards.
c. Assessment of;
- Need for shore discharge connection, in case Ballast Water is required to be discharged to shore reception facility due to failure of BW Management System installed to achieve D-2 standards.
- Cleaning of tank.
- Safety issue while discharging to shore reception and procedures for same.
- Ship owners/ operators and masters of GOI flagged ships are advised to be guided by above.
Enclosure:
Disclaimer:
This Technical Circular and the material contained in it is provided only for the purpose of supplying current information to the reader and not as an advice to be relied upon by any person. While we have taken utmost care to be as factual as possible, readers/ users are advised to verify the exact text and content of the Regulation from the original source/ issuing Authority.