Ballast Water Management - Ship Board Operations

Recommendations for ship operations include practices to minimize the uptake of harmful aquatic organisms and options to effectively manage ballast water. These options include self-cleaning filtration systems, heat treatment and ultraviolet light disinfection are progressing. Presently, the only practicable measure for large amounts of ballast (i.e., more than 5000 tons) is by ballast water exchange at sea.

Two proposals are contained in the resolution: (1) the flow through method which involves the continuous exchange of ballast in order that its volume is replaced three times and (2) a single, complete ballast exchange. In either case, the process should take place in the open sea in order for the concentrations of organisms to be reduced by approximately 95%, which is considered as an acceptable level of risk reduction.

Measures taken by ship operators to minimize the transfer of harmful aquatic organisms and pathogens through the ship’s ballast water are to be documented in the ship’s ballast water management plan. This plan is to be unique to each ship and is to be made readily available to port States which have implemented requirements for ballast water management. Information relative to the ballast exchange, including geographic location, prevailing sea-state, seawater salinity, dates and amount of ballast treated should be recorded and made available to port States. A model reporting form is included in the resolution.

The guidelines also incorporate MSC/Circ.806. This contains operational precautions for ships undertaking ballast water exchange