Ballast Water Exchange at Sea

News was prepared under the information support of Online Daily Newspaper on Hellenic and international Shipping "Hellenic Shipping News".

9 Dec 2009

Increase in the number of states requiring mandatory ballast water exchange on ships prior to calling at their ports has motivated Russian Maritime Register of Shipping (RS) to advise of current documents regulating safety aspects of ballast water exchange at sea and of confirmation procedure of safe ballast water exchange in respect of RS-classed ships. One of the most serious threats to the ecological equilibrium in the World Ocean is the introduction of unwanted species to the existing ecosystems. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has adopted the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments which stipulates that from 2009 to 2019 all ships with ballast tanks and engaged on international voyages should be equipped with ballast water treatment systems (mechanical, chemical, biological, etc.) to ensure the required minimal concentration of viable organisms and sediment removal. As a temporary provision for the transitional period, ballast water exchange in open sea areas was prescribed.
To clarify the Convention requirements and the application procedure during design, construction and operation of sea-going ships, 15 specific guidelines have been developed by IMO on the uniform application of the Convention provisions: ballast water exchange, ballast water management system approval including systems using active substances, development of ballast water management plans, ensuring equivalence to the Convention requirements, etc. The guidelines were agreed by the IMO Committee on Marine Environment Protection (MEPC) and recommended for use.
Currently there are 20 Contracting States to the Convention. The prolonged ratification process results from technical complications in realization of the requirements for ballast water management systems as well as from organizational arrangements associated with verifying compliance with the requirements. Tight deadline of the Convention’s entry into force creates additional difficulties.
Despite these complications, a number of countries (Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Israel, New Zealand, the USA, et al.) are already imposing requirements for ballast water monitoring and management on ships calling at their ports in order to prevent the transfer of harmful aquatic organisms and pathogens.
Bearing in mind the ballast water exchange at sea is the simplest and readily controllable way of ballast water management, these countries have approved it as a sufficient measure.
Moreover, since November 1, 2009, ships calling at the ROPME (Regional Organization for the Protection of the Marine Environment) sea area (the Gulf region) are to exchange their ballast water in advance in open sea areas.
Recognizing the importance of ballast water and sediment management, RS considers it advisable, prior to the Convention’s entry into force, to implement it as the basis of actions aimed at reducing the risk of harmful aquatic organisms and pathogens transfer.
The efficiency and safety of ballast water exchange in deep water and open ocean is to be confirmed by a special ship document, namely, the Ballast Water Management Plan.
It is necessary to ensure the ship safety and, among other things, its stability and strength during ballast water exchange at sea. In this connection, RS deems it necessary for ships to carry on board Guidelines on the Safe Ballast Water Exchange at Sea, based on Part B of the Convention, IMO Resolution A.868(20), Guidelines for Ballast Water Exchange adopted by Resolution MEPC.124(53) and Guidelines for Ballast Water Management and Development of Ballast Water Management Plans adopted by Resolution MEPC.127(53).
Requirements for the contents and form of ballast water management plans are set out in the relevant RS Instructions developed in 2003 and amended in 2006 in view of the progress made by IMO and RS experience in the plan approval.
The Ballast Water Management Plan of an RS-classed ship calling at the ports of states requiring water ballast exchange to be performed prior to entering their territorial waters or calling at their ports is to be approved for compliance with the Instruction. A special distinguishing mark is be added to the character of classification of ships performing ballast water and sediment management by means of ballast water exchange at sea to confirm their compliance with the RS requirements for ballast water exchange at sea. Ballast water exchange at sea is not feasible for RS-classed ships which do not carry an RS-approved Ballast Water Management Plan.
All the trim, stability and strength criteria applicable to the ship are to be considered at all the stages of ballast water exchange. To assess conformity with those criteria would usually require a considerable number of trim, stability and strength calculations to be made.
The RS Head Office personnel have relevant qualification and experience and is specially trained to promptly review the documentation (including ballast water management plans).  Specialists will explain, where necessary, the application procedure for generalized practical evaluation of ship safety during ballast water exchange at sea and ballast water management plans development.
 RS will also provide information on the RS-recognized bodies competent in the development of ballast water management plans.

Source: Russian Maritime Register of Shipping