Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
National authorities responsible for the BWM Convention implementation may
receive applications from shipping companies for permanent exceptions based on the
“same location” concept. Consequently the authorities will need to decide, on a case-
by-case basis, how the term should be applied. We recommend that “same location”
means the smallest practicable unit, i.e., the same harbour, mooring or anchorage, as
stated in IMO Guidelines G3. When considering the diversity of ships ballast opera-
tions and ports, as well as possible differences in environmental conditions and species
compositions among port terminals or basins, we recommend that an entire smaller
port, possibly also including the anchorage, should be considered as “same location”.
For larger ports with a gradient of environmental conditions, the “same location”
should mean a terminal or a port basin. We further suggest that IMO considers the
preparation of a guidance document to include concepts, criteria and processes how to
identify a “same location”, which limits should be clearly identifi ed. Large areas
encompassing more ports should not be identifi ed as a “same location” as this would
seriously undermine purpose of the BWM Convention, as unmanaged ballast water
would be transferred in this area (Gollasch and David 2012 ; David et al. 2013 ).
(see also the U.S. same port or place concept in chapter Policy and Legal Framework
and the Current Status of Ballast Water Management Requirements ”).
Compliance Monitoring
In accordance with Article 9.1, ships to which the BWM Convention applies may be
subject to inspections for the purpose of revealing violations of the provisions of the
BWM Convention. These inspections shall:
• Verify that the ship is carrying a valid Ballast Water Management Certifi cate;
• Verify that a Ballast Water Management Plan specifi c to the ship and approved
by the Flag state is onboard;
Undertake an inspection of the Ballast Water Record Topic.
As a part of the Port State Control and to demonstrate compliance with the D-2
standard, port authorities may consider sampling ballast water for subsequent
analyses. IMO provided guidance on sampling ballast water in Guidelines for Ballast
Water Sampling (G2). We have summarised the state of knowledge regarding
ballast water sampling in chapter Ballast Water Sampling and Sample Analysis for
Compliance Control ”.
Implementation of the Ballast Water Management Convention
A Blanket or a Selective Approach?
The BWM Convention incorporates two different basic BWM regimes; i.e., the
“blanket” and the “selective” approach. A blanket approach results in a situation
where all ships intending to discharge ballast water in a port are required by the port
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