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A Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) focusing on Ballast Water Management (BWM) will take place from 1 September to 30 November 2025, conducted jointly by the Paris MoU and Tokyo MoU.

The aim is to verify that ships are meeting the requirements of the Ballast Water Management Convention, ensuring protection of the marine environment from invasive aquatic species.


Key Inspection Focus Areas

Port State Control (PSC) officers will pay close attention to the following:

  • International Ballast Water Management Certificate (IBWMC) – Must be valid and current.

  • Ballast Water Management Plan (BWMP) – Approved, updated, and available on board.

  • Crew Knowledge & Familiarity – Crew should clearly explain BWMP procedures.

  • Ballast Water Management System (BWMS) – Type-approved and fully operational.

  • Ballast Water Record Book (BWRB) – Accurate and complete record of ballast operations.

  • Sediment Management – Procedures in place for safe removal and disposal of sediment.

  • Exemptions – Any exemptions must be valid and properly documented.


Preparation Tips for Ship Operators

To avoid deficiencies during the CIC, consider the following steps:

  1. Verify Certificates – Ensure IBWMC and related documents are up to date.

  2. Review and Update the BWMP – Make sure it reflects current equipment and procedures.

  3. Conduct Crew Training – Hold briefings to reinforce understanding of ballast operations.

  4. Inspect the BWMS – Confirm that it is in good working order before inspections.

  5. Check Records – Audit the Ballast Water Record Book for accuracy and completeness.

  6. Review Sediment Procedures – Ensure compliance with sediment management requirements.


Why This CIC Matters

Non-compliance with ballast water regulations can lead to detentions, fines, and reputational damage. This CIC is an opportunity for ship operators to demonstrate their commitment to environmental protection and regulatory compliance.


From today (8 September), ballast water management will form part of port state control inspections but samples will not be routinely taken, the secretary general of the Paris Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Port State Control, Richard Schiferli, told BWTT yesterday.

His organisation has prepared guidelines for inspections, but he does not anticipate that inspectors will focus on equipment or sampling “unless there are clear grounds to do so,” he said. Asked whether the MoU was planning to mount a concentrated inspection campaign (CIC) of the sort it is currently conducting into navigational safety, he said there were no plans for a ballast-treatment CIC in the near future “taking into account the developments at IMO.”

But he added: “After the first six months we should have a better picture of the implementation of the BWM Convention.”

The MoU’s guidelines are “in line with the IMO guidelines,” he said, which were issued as Resolution MEPC.252(67) in 2014. They set out a four-stage inspection process that, in summary, consists of:

  • An initial inspection, focusing on documentation and ensuring that an officer has been nominated for ballast water management on board the ship and to be responsible for the BWMS, and that the officer has been trained and knows how to operate it.
  • A more detailed inspection, when the operation of the BWMS is checked and the PSC officer clarifies whether the BWMS has been operated adequately according to the ballast water management plan.
  • A third stage, during which sampling is envisaged to occur to identify whether the ship is meeting the ballast water management performance standard described in regulation D-2.
  • A fourth stage, if necessary, incorporates detailed analysis to verify compliance with the D-2 standardSource: https://www.rivieramm.com/news-content-hub/news-content-hub/psc-starts-ballast-management-checks-but-not-sampling-27280

BWMS type approval !

The Coast Guard Marine Safety Center received its 20th application for Ballast Water Management System type approval for the Aquarius UV Ballast Water Management System manufactured by Wärtsilä Water Systems Ltd.

MSC will review the application for compliance with U.S. Coast Guard regulations in 46 CFR 162.060. Once it has been determined that the application meets the requirements, the MSC will issue a type approval certificate.

BWMS type approval applications and approval certificates are posted on MSC’s website. The list will be updated frequently in order to provide industry and the general public the most current information regarding the status of each application.

 

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