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Enforcement is Key: Is the Ballast Water Management Convention Truly Effective? Yesterday marked a significant milestone in maritime history: - 20 years after the adoption of the Ballast Water Management (BWM) Convention, - 8 years after its ratification, - 7 years after its entry into force, All ships over 400 GT are now required to comply with the *D-2 standard* for ballast water management. Having worked in this industry for the past 16 years, there were times when I wondered if we would ever reach this point. But despite this progress, one critical element is still missing — *#enforcement*. Documentation checks by Port State Control (#PSC) are helpful, but they don’t verify if the actual ballast water discharge meets D-2 compliance standards. In my experience, the only reliable way to ensure compliance with the BWM Convention is through *independent sampling and analysis*. Without independent testing, there’s no definitive proof that ships are adhering to the D-2 standard. Yes, there are ongoing discussions at the International Maritime Organization (#IMO) about integrating ballast water testing during vessel surveys. However, when a ship undergoes its five-year renewal survey in drydock, no one is currently checking if its ballast discharge complies with the D-2 standard. The good news? Regulation E-1 of the BWM Convention already allows for sampling and analysis per Circ.70/Rev.1 to ensure that Ballast Water Management Systems (#BWMS) are functioning correctly. Every flag state has the authority to require this as a condition for renewing a vessel’s D-2 compliance certificate. Let’s remind both the maritime industry and regulators of the importance of strict enforcement. Ensuring the long-term success of the BWM Convention is vital for protecting our #marine #biodiversity — for the next 20 years and beyond.

MEPC 82 will address proposed amendments to the BWM Convention, tackling issues related to ballast water discharge, record keeping and short voyage exemptions. #ballastwater #BWMS #BWTT #seafarers #UV #chemical #ideal #VIDA #ballast #water #management #system #D2standard #IMO #USCG #antifouling #sustainability #zerocarbonshipping

The 81st session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 81) was held in London (18-22 March 2024). Overview of few major adoptions in this session- - Amendments to Ballast Water Management Convention regarding the use of electronic water record books - Amendments to MARPOL Annex VI on low-flashpoint fuels and other fuel oil related issues; marine diesel engine replacing a steam system; accessibility of the data in the IMO Ship Fuel Consumption Database (IMO DCS) ; inclusion of data on transport work and enhanced level of granularity in the IMO DCS. Consequential amendments to SEEMP 2022 Guidelines. - Draft amendments to the 2021 Guidelines on the shaft/engine power limitation system to comply with the EEXI requirements and use of a power reserve - Amendments to the unified interpretations of regulations 2.2.15 and 2.2.18 of MARPOL Annex VI (concerning electronic bunker delivery notes) -Amendments to circular BWM.2/Circ.43/Rev.1 on the approval process for the modifications of a system that has already received type approval -Interim guidance for ports with challenging water quality -BWM.2/Circ.82 on Guidance for the temporary storage of treated sewage and/or grey water in ballast tanks

🌊 Enhancing Compliance and Sustainability with Electronic Ballast Water Record Books (eBWRB) 🌍 The maritime industry is evolving, and so are the regulations that drive compliance and environmental protection. The recent updates to the Ballast Water Record Book (BWRB) guidelines under the International Maritime Organization’s BWM Convention highlight the importance of modernization and digitization in ballast water management. 💡 Key Updates: 1️⃣ New BWRB Format: Starting February 1, 2025, ships must adopt the revised BWRB format with standardized templates and structured guidance for recording ballast water operations. Early adoption is possible with flag Administration approval. 2️⃣ Electronic BWRBs (eBWRBs): • Digital systems approved by flag Administrations offer automated logging, improved accuracy, and reduced paperwork. • Key features include robust security measures, seamless integration with Safety Management Systems (SMS), and backup capabilities to ensure data integrity. 3️⃣ Stricter Compliance by October 1, 2025: • Electronic entries must be promptly recorded, signed by responsible officers, and verified by the ship’s master. • Ships must provide verified digital or hard-copy records during inspections to avoid compliance issues. 🔑 Why This Matters: The shift to electronic record-keeping aligns with the maritime industry’s goals of improved operational efficiency and sustainability. By leveraging automation and secure digital platforms, shipowners can not only ease regulatory compliance but also showcase their commitment to environmental stewardship. As a maritime professional, I’m excited about the potential of these updates to shape a smarter and greener future for shipping. 🌐 What are your thoughts on the adoption of eBWRB in the industry? Let’s discuss below! 💬 #MaritimeInnovation #Sustainability #BallastWaterManagement #DigitalTransformation #ShippingIndustry

This ABS Regulatory News covers the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments (BWM Convention) requirements for ships to maintain a Ballast Water Record Book (BWRB) to document ballast water discharges and operations. This report highlights recent amendments to the BWRB requirements, emphasizing their significance for compliance and environmental protection.  🌐 🌐 🌐 Learn more about this regulatory news in our brief below (click the arrows to scroll or download directly after viewing full screen). #maritime #shipping #shipsandshipping

The MEPC 81 session has advanced ballast water management, addressing challenging water quality, regulatory revisions, and industrywide technical hurdles. #ballastwater #BWMS #BWTT #seafarers #UV #chemical #ideal #ballast #water #management #system #D2standard #IMO #USCG #antifouling #sustainability #zerocarbonshipping

❗ Don’t forget!  ❗ To those holding certain temporary and open-ended permits in Texas: Starting December 31, 2024, an annual reporting requirement is in place for permits like air permits by rule (PBR), standard exemptions, and specific air quality standard permits. Permit holders must report the operational status of their activities to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) every year by December 31. This applies to a wide range of permits including animal carcass incinerators, concrete batch plants with enhanced controls, electric generating units, and more. For full details, check the Texas Water Code, Sec. 5.587.  https://lnkd.in/gugNWidM #EnvironmentalCompliance #AirQuality #TCEQ #TexasPermits

BWM.2/-Circ.82 (April 2, 2024) Guidance for the temporary storage of treated sewage and-or grey water in ballast water tanks 1.The Marine Environment Protection Committee, at its eighty-first session (18 to 22 March 2024), approved the Guidance for the temporary storage of treated sewage and/or grey water in ballast water tanks to establish a uniform procedure for minimizing the impact on the environment while ensuring practicability on ships, as set out in the annex. 2.Member Governments are invited to bring this Guidance to the attention of all parties concerned. Introduction 1-The purpose of this guidance is to provide a procedure for the temporary storage of treated sewage and/or grey water in ballast water tanks. 2-Shipowners, ship operators, masters and officers of ships with temporary storage of treated sewage and/or grey water in ballast water tanks should properly implement this procedure. 3-There are exceptional situations where, to comply with coastal State regulations or inadequate reception facilities at ports, dry-docks and terminals, it may become necessary to store treated sewage and/or grey water in ballast water tanks.

MCERTS is the Environment Agency's Self-Monitoring Certification Scheme. Its purpose is to provide a framework to ensure environmental measurements are set to a certain standard.  The main focus of MCERTS is the Environment Agency's requirements for consent holders under the Water Resources Act 1991 to measure the flow of sewage or trade effluent to controlled waters and collect and report the monitoring data. Learn more in the comments below 👇  Find the best flow monitoring equipment for your needs: 📞 +44 (0) 1527 882060  ✉️ info@rshydro.co.uk #mcerts #flowmeasurement #flowmonitoring

MEPC 82 will discuss ICS proposals on improving ballast water sampling and analysis to address compliance challenges, especially in regions with poor water quality. #ballastwater #BWMS #BWTT #seafarers #UV #chemical #ideal #VIDA #ballast #water #management #system #D2standard #IMO #USCG #antifouling #sustainability #zerocarbonshipping