Department of Agriculture
and Water Resources
August
2017 Ballast water management
for international vessels
CHANGES FOR VESSELS ENTERING AUSTRALIA FROM
8 SEPTEMBER 2017
On 8 September 2017, the International Convention for the Control and
Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments (the Convention)
will enter into force internationally.
From this date, all vessels are required to manage their ballast water and sediments in accordance with the
Convention and Biosecurity Act 2015.
The Australian Ballast Water Management Requirements Version 7, available from
agriculture.gov.au/ballast, explain how vessel operators should manage ballast water while in Australia,
in compliance with the Biosecurity Act 2015.
New requirements
Management plans and certification
From 8 September 2017, all internationally operating vessels entering Australia will require an:
• approved Ballast Water Management Plan
• International Ballast Water Management Certificate.
These documents must be in the form prescribed by the Convention.
Case by case exemptions from the requirement to obtain certification, or meet the D-2 discharge standard
apply in some circumstances. See agriculture.gov.au/ballast for more information.
Management of Australian-sourced ballast water
Approved methods of ballast water management
From 8 September 2017, Australian-sourced ballast water must be managed by an approved method
prior to discharge in a subsequent Australian port. Approved methods include:
• ballast water exchange
• use of an International Maritime Organization type approved ballast water treatment system
• discharge to a ballast water reception facility
• on-board conversion of sea water to potable water for use as ballast
• retention (sometime known as tank-to-tank transfers).
Exceptions to ballast water management
Vessels do not need to use an approved method of ballast water management if all ballast water in a tank is:
• taken up on high seas
• taken up and discharged in the same place (within port limits)
• taken up and discharged within a declared same risk area
Department of Agriculture and Water Resources Ballast water management for international vessels
• covered by a low risk exemption (this applies to international vessels managing
Australian-sourced ballast water between specific ports where ballast transfer is determined to be
low risk).
Vessel operators can apply for low risk exemptions using the Australian Sourced Ballast Application, or
by updating their existing ballast water report, in the Maritime Arrival Reporting System (MARS).
Register your vessel, and learn more about MARS from August 2017 at
agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity/avm/vessel/mars
Ballast water reporting
There is no change to the way an international vessel provides a pre-arrival report on their ballast water
(through the ballast water report application in MARS).
Ballast water reports should:
• be submitted no later than 12 hours before a vessel intends to discharge ballast water
• contain a forward itinerary of subsequent Australian ports where known.
Where the vessel continues their voyage to a subsequent port within Australia, the vessel’s operator may
report any Australian-sourced ballast water operations through the ballast water report in MARS.
Ballast water exchange
Vessel masters who cannot comply with the following requirements should phone the Maritime National
Coordination Centre on 1300 004 605 for advice. Failure to do so before discharging ballast water may
result in civil penalties for the operator of the vessel.
Where to exchange international water
Vessels carrying internationally sourced ballast water must conduct ballast water exchanges as far
as possible from the nearest land, which is:
• at least 12 nautical miles from the nearest land, and in water greater than 50 metres deep
• where possible, more than 200 nautical miles from the nearest land and in water greater than
200 metres deep.
Where to exchange Australian-sourced ballast water
Vessels carrying Australian-sourced ballast water must conduct ballast water exchanges:
• at least 12 nautical miles from the nearest land, and in water greater than 50 metres deep.
Ballast water must not be discharged or exchanged in:
• Ningaloo Marine Reserve, Western Australia
• Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, Queensland
Please see the Australian Ballast Water Management Requirements Version 7
(agriculture.gov.au/ballast) for exchange requirements when operating between ports in the Great
Barrier Reef Marine Park area.
Ensuring compliance
Biosecurity officers will conduct inspections to ensure compliance with Australian domestic ballast
water regulations.
Contact 1800 900 090 For more information
(free call) agriculture.gov.au
BIO3102_0717
Facebook: Australian biosecurity
Twitter: @DeptAgNews
