– Update on amendments to the Ballast Water Management (BWM) Convention

IMCA Information Note 1669 brought to Members' attention new Guidance on ballast water record-keeping and reporting which was approved by MEPC 80 and disseminated by means of Circular BWM/2/Circ.80.

The Guidance on ballast water record-keeping and reporting was intended to clarify to the record-keeping and reporting process under the BWM Convention, including:

• guidance on completing the Ballast Water Record Book
  
  
• an updated example ballast water reporting form, and
  
  
• an example form, for voluntary tank-by-tank logging of ballast water operations.

Two sessions later, MEPC 82 considered and approved a revision of the Guidance, set out in the annex to BWM.2/Circ.80/rev.1, in order to provide guidance on recording operational scenarios related to challenging water quality in the Ballast Water Record Book, in line with the Interim guidance on the application of the BWM Convention to ships operating in challenging water quality conditions (Resolution MEPC.387(81)).

BWM.2/Circ.80/rev.1 includes guidance on completing the Ballast Water Record Book (BWRB) and provides:

• guidance for completing the ballast water record book (Appendix 1)
  
  
• an updated example of the ballast water reporting form (Appendix 2)
  
  
• an example form for voluntary tank-by-tank logging of ballast water operations (Appendix 3), and
  
  
• an example of logging operations when encountering challenging water qualities.

As a result of MEPC 82 approving circular BWM.2/Circ.80/rev.1, circular BWM.2/Circ.80 has been revoked.

As highlighted in Information Note 1669, on 1 February 2025, Resolution MEPC.369(80), adopted at MEPC 80 will:

• amend Appendix II of the BWM Convention with an updated form of the Ballast Water Record Book (BWRB), and
  
  
• apply the new codes A to H together with the specific item number for different ballast water operations as specified in MEPC.369(80).

Members are advised to ensure their crews are familiar with the new BWRB form in sufficient time as port states and flag administrations will require records to be kept in accordance with the amendments.

It is expected that the BWRB can be amended without having to amend the ballast water management plan (BWMP) meaning that re-approval of the BWMP should not be required.

Regulation B-2 of the BWM Convention enables the use of electronic record books and Resolution MEPC.372(80) adopted by MEPC 80, provides guidelines for their implementation.

At the following MEPC meeting, MEPC 81 adopted MEPC.383(81) which amended Regulations A-1 and B-2 of the BWM Convention to include the use of electronic ballast water record books. The amendment is mandatory from 1 October 2025 and requires:

• the approval of an electronic electronic ballast water record book based on the guidelines provided by MEPC.372(80) when the hard-copy record book is replaced by an electronic one.
  
  
• a ship-specific declaration to be carried on board confirming that the installation of the electronic ballast water record book meets the requirements of the IMO guidelines.

For more information, please contact Margaret.Fitzgerald@imca-int.com.