About
The BWM Convention applies to all ships registered under contracting parties to the BWM Convention, with ballast water capacity that are active in international traffic (with a few exceptions). Ships covered by the BWM Convention are required to manage their ballast water and sediments to a certain standard.
However, ships that are not registered in a state that is a contracting party to the BWM Convention still have to comply with the convention when they are sailing in a port state that is a contracting party.
- The International Ballast Water Management Certificate (for vessels more than 400 GT) – issued by or on behalf of the vessel's flag state.
- The ships that the convention applies to have to carry a Ballast Water Management Plan including procedures for the discharge of ballast water and the handling of sediment - which must be specific to each ship and approved by the Flag Administration or a Recognised Organisation.
- A Ballast Water Record Book - to record when ballast water is taken on board, circulated or treated for ballast water management purposes, and discharged into the sea or a reception facility, and any accidental discharges.
Regulation D-2 entered into force for all ships on 8 September 2024. This regulation requires all ships to have an approved ballast water treatment system to remove or neutralise organism and pathogens in ballast water. The system had to be installed before completion of the first International Oil Pollution Prevention renewal survey after 8 September 2019. New ships were required to have the system installed at delivery. The Ballast Water Management Plan also had to be updated to reflect the D-2 requirements.
To assist with implementation, IMO has released a number of guidelines to facilitate the implementation of the Convention.
The IMO is continuously amending and improving the BWM Convention based on experience of its effect and functioning, and further amendments may therefore be forthcoming.
Who does it impact?
Vessel-owners of ships to which the BWM Convention applies.
Status: In force
The BWM Convention was adopted on 13 February 2004 and entered into force on 8 September 2017.
Relation to other initiatives and regulations
One of several conventions adopted by the IMO.
Participants
The BWM Convention has been signed by more than 80 states. Notably, the US is not a party to the BWM Convention, and vessels discharging ballast water into US territorial waters must comply with the US BWM Regulation. The US maintains a separate list of ballast water treatment systems approved by the US Coast Guard.
Thommessen's comments
In brief terms, the BWM Convention requires all ships to carry the following documents:
The ballast water management standards will be phased in over a period of time. The first regulation (the D-1 Regulation) covered ballast water exchange, i.e. flushing ballast water tanks in open seas. From 8 September 2024, all ships are required to meet the performance standards contained in regulation D-2, which means that all vessels must have installed an approved Ballast Water Management Treatment System.