Maritime &
Coastguard
Agency
Guidance
MGN 675 (M+F) The merchant
shipping (control and
management of ships' ballast
water and sediments)
regulations 2022
Published 21 July 2022
Contents
Summary
1. Introduction
2. Application
3. Definitions
4. Floating Platforms, FSUs and FPSO Units
5. Process for Leaving and Re-entering a Period of Exclusive Operations within UK
Waters
6. Ballast Water Management Plans
7. Ballast Water Record Book
8. Requirement to Conduct Ballast Water Management
9. Major Conversion
10. Sediment Management for Ships
11. Sediment Reception Facilities
12. Exceptions
13. Same Location
14. Equivalent Compliance
15. Ballast Water Treatment Standard
16. Contingency Measures for BWMS Failure
17. Permanent Sealed Tanks
18. Potable Water
19. Ballast Water Exchange
20. Designation of Ballast Water Exchange Areas
21. Ballast Water Exchange where Location Requirements are not Possible
22. Survey and Certification
23. Responsibilities of Owner and Master
24. Extension of Validity of IBWM Certificates
25. Guidance for Ports
More information
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sediments-regulations-2022
Summary
The purpose of this Marine Guidance Notice is to provide guidance on certain
aspects of the Merchant Shipping (Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast
Water and Sediments) Regulations 2022. The Regulations implement the
requirements of the International Convention for the Control and Management of
Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments (2004).
1. Introduction
1.1 The International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast
Water and Sediments (“BWM Convention”) was adopted at a Diplomatic
Conference held at the International Maritime Organization’s (“IMO”) headquarters
in 2004 and came into force on 8 September 2017. It sets out regulations which
address the spread of invasive non-native species by ships’ ballast water and
sediments.
1.2 The United Kingdom (UK) has implemented the BWM Convention’s
requirements through the Merchant Shipping (Control and Management of Ships’
Ballast Water and Sediments) Regulations 2022 (“the Regulations”).
1.3 The purpose of this document is to provide guidance on certain aspects of the
Regulations.
2. Application
2.1 Subject to paragraph 2.4 below, the Regulations apply to UK ships regardless of
tonnage wherever they may be (regulation 4).
2.2 The Regulations also apply to non-UK ships, when they are in UK waters and
controlled waters (i.e. the UK’s Exclusive Economic Zone) (regulation 4).
2.3 It should be noted that the definition of a “ship” means a vessel of any type
operating in the aquatic environment and includes submersibles, floating craft,
floating platforms, floating storage units and floating production storage and
offloading units.
2.4 The Regulations do not apply to:
Ships which are not designed or constructed to carry ballast water;
Ships which operate only in waters under the jurisdiction of a single Contracting
State. In the UK context, this means that the Regulations do not apply to ships
which operate only in UK waters or controlled waters;
Ships which operate only in waters under the jurisdiction of a single Contracting
State and on the high seas. In the UK context, this means that the Regulations do
not apply to ships which operate only in UK waters or UK controlled waters and
the high seas;
Any warship, naval auxiliary or other ship owned or operated by a State and used
only on government, non-commercial service.
Ships which carry permanent ballast water in sealed tanks which is not subject
to discharge.
2.5 IMO Circular BWM.2/Circ.32 provides guidance on the applicability of the BWM
Convention to hopper dredgers.
3. Definitions
3.1 “Ballast water” means water with its suspended matter taken on board a ship
to control trim, list, draught, stability or stresses of the ship.
3.2 “Ballast water management” means mechanical, physical, chemical or
biological processes, used singly or in combination, to remove, render harmless, or
avoid the uptake or discharge of harmful aquatic organisms within ballast water or
sediments;
3.3 “Ballast water management system” means any system which processes
ballast water such that it meets or exceeds the discharge standards in regulation
13 (ballast water and sediment treatment standard) and includes:
ballast water treatment equipment;
its associated control and monitoring equipment;
piping arrangements as specified by the manufacturer; and
its sampling facilities;
3.4 It does not include a ship’s ballast water fittings that would be required if a
ballast water management system (BWMS) was not fitted.
3.5 Ballast water management systems may also be referred to in industry as
ballast water treatment systems (BWTS).
3.6 “Discharge” in relation to ballast water or sediments, means any release
howsoever caused from a ship and includes any escape, disposal, spilling, leaking,
pumping, emitting or emptying;
3.7 “Exchange” means a process involving the replacement of water in a ballast
tank using the sequential method or pump-through method which complies with
regulations 11 (location of ballast water exchange) and 12 (ballast water exchange
standard);
3.8 “Treatment” means mechanical, physical, chemical or biological processes,
used singly or in combination, to ensure that any ballast water or sediments
discharged from a ship meet the standard in regulation 13 (ballast water and
sediment treatment standard);
3.9 Please see regulation 2 (interpretation) of the Regulations for further
definitions.
4. Floating Platforms, FSUs and FPSO Units
4.1 Floating platforms, FSUs and FPSOs are included within the definition of a ship
in the Regulations and if operating in the jurisdiction of more than one State will
require survey and certification. If FSUs and FSPOs operate exclusively in UK
waters/controlled waters or UK waters/controlled waters and the high seas the
Regulations will not apply, as provided for in regulation 4(2).
5. Process for Leaving and Re-entering a Period
of Exclusive Operations within UK Waters
5.1 As outlined in section 2 above, if a ship is operating exclusively in UK waters or
UK controlled waters and the high seas the Regulations will not apply. If such a ship
makes an international voyage, to the jurisdiction of another State, then the
Regulations will become applicable. Before making that voyage, the ship will need a
survey, International Ballast Water Management (IBWM) Certificate, ballast water
management plan and ballast water record book.
5.2 Where a ship wishes to resume a period of exclusive operations within UK
waters then they should follow IMO guidance BWM.2/Circ.52. For further advice
and guidance in this area please email
[email protected].
6. Ballast Water Management Plans
6.1 Regulation 9 contains the requirements relating to the ballast water
management plan.
6.2 Every ship to which the Regulations apply must carry on board an approved
ballast water management plan, which has been approved by the Flag state or, if a
UK flagged ship, approved by a Certifying Authority as detailed in regulation 9.
6.3 The ballast water management plan should be developed in accordance with
the IMO’s “Guidelines for ballast water management and development of ballast
water management plans (G4)[footnote 1]”. These guidelines will be taken into
consideration when approving a plan and those writing a plan should be familiar
with the BWM Convention and the Regulations.
6.4 The plan must be written in the working language of the ship’s personnel and
translated into either English, French or Spanish if the working language is not one
of these.
6.5 The master must ensure that crew are familiar with their duties listed in the
plan and that the plan related to that ship is implemented. The master must also
ensure that crew are familiar with the contents of the ballast water management
plan where this is appropriate to their duties.
6.6 A ballast water management plan must include the information set out in
section 4.3 of MSN 1908.
6.7 It is also strongly advised that the plan contain contingency measures for a
failure of ballast water management systems if being used. Further information on
contingency measures can be found in section 17 of this MGN.
7. Ballast Water Record Book
7.1 Regulation 10 contains the requirements relating to the ballast water record
book.
7.2 Every ship to which the Regulations apply must carry on board a ballast water
record book which must be completed after every ballast water operation.
Additional information regarding ballast water record books can be found in MSN
1908.
7.3 The ballast water record book may be in electronic form and must be written in
the working language of the ship’s personnel and translated into either English,
French or Spanish if the working language is not one of these.
7.4 Each entry must be signed by the officer in charge of the relevant operation and
each completed page must be signed by the master of the ship.
7.5 The record book must be kept on board the relevant ship for a period of two
years after the last entry has been made and then retained by the owner of the ship
for a further period of three years.
7.6 The ballast water record book must be kept readily available for inspection at all
reasonable times.
8. Requirement to Conduct Ballast Water
Management
8.1 Regulation 5 details the requirement to conduct ballast water management.
8.2 A ship to which the Regulations apply must not discharge any ballast water or
sediments into the sea unless they are subject to ballast water management which
meets the requirements of regulation 5(2).
8.3 Regulation 5(2) provides for two different methods of ballast water
management for ballast water and sediments; exchange (equivalent to the ‘D-1’
standard in the BWM Convention) and treatment (equivalent to the ‘D-2’ standard in
the BWM Convention). The Regulations allow for either exchange or treatment to
be used until such time that a ship needs to meet the treatment standard. Over
time more ships will be required to undertake only treatment.
8.4 Ballast water exchange must not be used as a method of compliance once the
ship is required to conduct ballast water management through treatment (also
known as the D-2 compliance date) or after 8 September 2024, whichever comes
first.
8.5 Ships must conduct ballast water management through treatment where:
The ship has been constructed on or after 8 September 2017;
The ship had:
a) an International Oil Pollution Prevention (IOPP) renewal survey between 8
September 2014 and 7 September 2017; and
b) an IOPP renewal survey between 8 September 2017 and 7 September 2019;
The ship had an IOPP renewal survey between 8 September 2019 and the
coming into force of the Regulations; or
The ship has had an IOPP renewal survey after the coming into force of the
Regulations.
8.6 Until a ship falls within one of these categories it may undertake either
exchange or treatment. Ships which don’t have an IOPP renewal survey must
undertake only treatment after 8 September 2024.
8.7 Note, the requirement in regulation 5 to conduct ballast water management
does not apply to ships that discharge ballast water or sediments to a reception
facility of a type specified in MSN 1908 (regulation 6).
9. Major Conversion
9.1 Ships which are constructed on or after 8 September 2017 must conduct
ballast water management through treatment (regulation 5(2)(b)(i)). The term
‘constructed’ is defined in regulation 5(3)(b) and includes when a ship undergoes a
‘major conversion’. In turn ‘major conversion is defined in regulation 5(3)(d) as
meaning the conversion of a ship which:
changes its ballast water carrying capacity by 15 percent or greater;
changes the ship type;
the Secretary of State is satisfied is projected to prolong its life by ten years or
more; or
results in modifications to its BWMS other than the replacement-in-kind of
components.
9.2 Where a Certifying Authority is content that the conversion is projected to
prolong its life by ten years or more confirmation should be sought from the
Secretary of State by emailing
[email protected].
10. Sediment Management for Ships
10.1 All ships need to be aware of the requirement to dispose of sediments from
spaces designed to carry ballast water in accordance with the ship’s ballast water
management plan as outlined in MSN 1908.
10.2 New ships should be designed and constructed with a view to minimize the
uptake and entrapment of sediments, facilitate removal of sediments and provide
safe access to allow for sediment removal and sampling. The IMO’s “Guidelines on
design and construction to facilitate sediment control on ships (G12)[footnote 2]”
should be taken into account.
10.3 It is recommended that operations relating to sediment management are
recorded in the ballast water record book for inspection purposes.
11. Sediment Reception Facilities
11.1 Information regarding the availability of sediment reception facilities should be
available from the IMO but ships are advised to contact local ports/harbours to
determine if such facilities are available.
12. Exceptions
12.1 Regulation 6 provides for exceptions to the requirement to conduct ballast
water management.
12.2 Ballast water may be discharged without having been subject to ballast water
management where it is discharged to a reception facility of a type specified in
MSN 1908. Ships are advised to contact local ports/harbours to ask if such
facilities are available.
12.3 Ballast water or sediments may also be discharged without having been
subject to ballast water management in the following situations:
To ensure the safety of a ship in an emergency;
To save life at sea;
To avoid or minimise the discharge of pollution from the ship;
If there is accidental discharge caused by damage to the ship or its equipment,
providing that all reasonable precautions are taken to prevent or minimise the
discharge and the owner, demise charterer or master in charge did not wilfully or
recklessly cause the damage;
If they have been taken onboard a ship and discharged on the high seas or if the
discharge is at the same location where the whole of the ballast water or
sediments originated, provided no mixing of unmanaged ballast water or
sediments from other areas has occurred.
If mixing occurs, the ballast water is subject to the requirement to conduct
ballast water management in regulation 5. Further details regarding what
constitutes the ‘same location’ are provided in section 13 of this MGN.
12.4 A discharge of ballast water made under regulation 6 (exceptions) must be
recorded in the ballast water record book as outlined in regulation 10(3)(a).
13. Same Location
13.1 The term ‘same location’ is defined in the regulation 6(2) as meaning:
where any ballast water or sediments have been taken on board a ship within a
harbour, within the harbour limits of that harbour; or
otherwise within one nautical mile of the point of uptake.
13.2 If using the same location exception within UK waters or the UK’s controlled
waters, ships must ensure that this is stated clearly within their ballast water record
book and, where appropriate, their ballast water management plan. They should
note the coordinates of uptake and discharge in their ballast water record books
(see section 5 of MSN 1908). It must be ensured that ballast water and sediments
do not mix with ballast water and sediments from any other location before being
discharged and procedures to ensure this should be detailed in the plan.
14. Equivalent Compliance
14.1 Pleasure vessels, as defined in regulation 8(4), or craft used primarily for
search and rescue, that are less than 50m in overall length and have a maximum
ballast capacity of 8m3 may apply to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (‘MCA’)
for equivalent compliance as provided for in regulation 8.
14.2 The UK will consider applications for equivalent compliance from vessels that
meet the criteria outlined within regulation 8 on a case-by-case basis, taking into
account the IMO’s “Guidelines for Ballast Water Management Equivalent
Compliance (G3)3[footnote 3]”.
15. Ballast Water Treatment Standard
15.1 Regulation 13 stipulates the maximum number of organism types and
indicator microbes that may be found within any discharged ballast water or
sediments which have been treated. Although not the only way to meet the
standard, the installation of an appropriately type approved BWMS is the most
common method used.
15.2 The implementation dates in regulation 5 should be used to determine when a
ship is required to conduct ballast water management through treatment.
15.3 The requirement to treat ballast water to the standard in regulation 13 may be
achieved through the installation of a type approved BWMS. For UK ships the UK
recognises all BWMS that have been type approved in accordance with MSN 1908.
16. Contingency Measures for BWMS Failure
16.1 For the purposes of this section a failure is defined as when the BWMS is
unable to meet the required treatment standard regardless of the cause.
16.2 IMO Circular BWM.2/Circ.62 sets out contingency measures and advice for
this situation.
16.3 Owners should consider actions that may be required should their ship not be
able to meet the standards in the Regulations and are advised to include reference
to such actions within the ship’s ballast water management plan.
16.4 In the event of a BWMS failure both the MCA and/or the Port State should be
notified and contingency measures, as listed in the ship’s ballast water
management plan, should be used. The contingency measure employed should be
agreed with the Port State and is subject to any further requirements as specified
by the Port State.
16.5 Possible contingency measures include:
The discharge of ballast water to another ship or to an appropriate shipboard or
land-based reception facility if available;
The management of the ballast water, or a portion of it, in accordance with a
method acceptable to the Port State;
Conducting ballast water exchange;
Modifying sailing or ballast water discharge schedules;
Internally transferring ballast water or retaining it on board (whilst considering
safety issues).
16.6 Methods to be used as contingency measures should be detailed in the ballast
water management plan.
17. Permanent Sealed Tanks
17.1 Operators considering undertaking a conversion to sealed permanent ballast
tanks that will only be discharged during dry docking should liaise with the
appropriate Recognised Organisation and/or their Customer Service Manager to
ensure that any work undertaken meets UK safety requirements. This includes a
review of stability requirements for the ship, details verifying that existing ballasting
systems and pipework are disconnected and a means of ensuring that any
modifications are tamperproof
18. Potable Water
18.1 The use of potable fresh water has not been approved by the IMO and is
therefore not an accepted method of compliance.
19. Ballast Water Exchange
19.1 Ships entering UK waters and using ballast water exchange as a method of
compliance will be expected to have carried out ballast water exchange as per the
BWM Convention requirements.
19.2 Owners are urged to contact relevant Port State administrations for
confirmation of ballast water exchange requirements within their waters.
19.3 Per the IMO’s “Guidelines (2017 Guidelines for Ballast Water Exchange)
(G6)4[footnote 4]” three methods have been evaluated and accepted by the IMO.
These are the sequential method, the flow through method and the dilution
method. The flow through method and the dilution method are considered as
“pump through” methods.
19.4 The three accepted methods can be described as follows:
Sequential method – a process by which a ballast tank intended for the carriage
of ballast water is first emptied and then refilled with replacement ballast water.
Where this method of exchange is used it must achieve at least a 95%
volumetric exchange (regulation 12(1)).
Flow-through method – a process by which replacement ballast water is
pumped into a ballast tank intended for the carriage of ballast water, allowing
water to flow through overflow or other arrangements.
Dilution method – a process by which replacement ballast water is filled through
the top of the ballast tank intended for the carriage of ballast water with
simultaneous discharge from the bottom at the same flow rate and maintaining
a constant level in the tank throughout the ballast exchange operation.
19.5 Where a pump-through method of exchange (flow-through or dilution) is used,
at least three times the volume of the ballast tank must be pumped through the
ballast tank, or it must achieve 95% volumetric exchange (regulation 12(2)).
20. Designation of Ballast Water Exchange
Areas
20.1 The Secretary of State may designate areas of sea in which ships may
conduct ballast water exchange (regulation 11(6)).
20.2 Any designation must be made in writing, maybe subject to conditions and
maybe varied or withdrawn (regulation 11(7)).
20.3 Details of the ballast water exchange areas currently designated can be found
in MSN 1908.
21. Ballast Water Exchange where Location
Requirements are not Possible
21.1 The location requirements for ballast water exchange are detailed in
regulation 11.
21.2 Where it is not possible to meet the depth and distance requirements, or to do
so would require the ship to deviate or delay its voyage a ship should use the
ballast water exchange area designated under MSN 1908 or:
Conduct ballast water exchange on the high seas before entering UK waters.
Use alternate means to manage the ship’s ballast water for instance using a
reception facility.
Conduct ballast water exchange as far from land and in water as deep as
possible.
21.3 Ships which are permitted to conduct ballast water management through
either exchange or treatment but are unable to meet the location requirements
described above will not be required to undertake treatment of ballast water
instead.
21.4 Ships will be expected to record the events and reasons for not being able to
meet the requirements of regulation 11(1) and 11(2) within the ballast water record
book (see section 5 of MSN 1908). Such ships are encouraged to act in accordance
with the spirit of the BWM Convention and in an environmentally responsible
manner by considering the early fitting of treatment equipment, the use of another
method of compliance or by adopting contingency measures in order to minimise
the impact of any discharged ballast water.
22. Survey and Certification
22.1 For ships to which the Regulations apply, the UK has delegated survey,
certification and ballast water management plan approvals to UK Certifying
Authorities 5[footnote 5].
22.2 A UK ship may only proceed to sea or remain at sea if it has a valid IBWM
Certificate (regulation 23). Part 6 of the Regulations details the survey
requirements that must be met under the Regulations. These regulations apply to
all ships to which the Regulations apply.
22.3 Initial Survey: A UK ship must have an initial survey to show that it has an
approved ballast water management plan on board and that all associated
structures, equipment, systems, fitting, arrangements, material and processes fully
comply with the requirements of the Regulations (regulation 25). An IBWM
Certificate will then be issued (regulation 26). Under the BWM Convention and the
Regulations where a ship transfers to the flag of another State its IBWM Certificate
ceases to be valid (regulation 28(6)). Therefore, a ship which joins the UK Ship
Register will require a renewal survey.
22.4 Renewal Survey: Prior to expiry of the IBWM certificate, a renewal survey is
required for UK ships (regulation 25). During this survey a surveyor will check the
ship has an approved ballast water management plan on board and that all
associated structures, equipment, systems, fitting, arrangements, material and
processes fully comply with the requirements of the Regulations. A new IBWM
Certificate will then be issued (regulation 26).
22.5 Annual Survey: A UK ship must have an annual survey no more than three
months before or after the anniversary date of the issue of an IBWM Certificate,
except where an intermediate survey has been completed within that period
(regulation 25). This is to ensure
that the structure, equipment, systems, fittings, arrangements, material and
processes associated with the ship’s ballast water management plan:
have been maintained to conform with the Regulations so as to ensure that the
ship, in all respects, remains fit to proceed to sea without presenting a threat of
harm to the environment, human health, property or resources; and
remain satisfactory for the service for which the ship is intended. Following a
successful survey, the Certifying Authority will endorse the IBWM Certificate
(regulation 27).
22.6 Intermediate Survey: The intermediate survey is required on the second or
third anniversary date of the IBWM Certificate and takes the place of an annual
survey (regulation 25). The survey will check that the equipment, associated
systems and processes for the ship’s ballast water management fully comply with
the requirements of the Regulations. Following a successful survey, the Certifying
Authority will endorse the Certificate (regulation 27).
22.7 Additional Survey: Additional surveys are required if a change, replacement or
significant repair has been made to the structure, equipment, systems, fittings,
arrangements or material necessary to achieve full compliance with the
Regulations or if a repair has been made after an accident or defect (regulation 32).
The survey will check that the change, replacement or repair has been made
effectively and the ship complies with the requirements of the Regulations. The
surveyor will issue a report to this effect if content.
22.8 A significant repair is one which is necessary to achieve full compliance with
Part 2 (discharge of ballast water and sediments), Part 3 (ballast water
management) and Part 5 (equipment) of the Regulations. If there is a dispute as to
whether a repair or renewal effected or intended to be effected is a “significant”
repair or renewal, and the ship owner or master wishes to seek advice from the
Secretary of State in accordance with regulation 32(5), the request should be sent
to MCA, Clean Ship Operations, Bay 2/23, Spring Place, 105 Commercial Road,
Southampton SO15 1EG or e-mail: [email protected].
22.9 If a ship fails a survey the surveyor will advise the owner or master of the
corrective action which is required. Where an IBWM Certificate is not endorsed
following an intermediate or annual survey then the IBWM Certificate ceases to be
valid (regulation 28(6)). The ship may not proceed to sea unless it has a valid IBWM
Certificate (regulation 23).
22.10 Please note, an IBWM Certificate may be cancelled if the Secretary of State
has reason to believe that it has been issued on the basis of false or erroneous
information, or that since the completion of any survey required by the Regulations,
the ship or its equipment has sustained damage or is otherwise deficient
(regulation 37).
23. Responsibilities of Owner and Master
23.1 As provided for in regulation 31, the owner and master of the ship must
ensure that the condition of the ship and its systems are maintained to conform
with the Regulations. Replacements that need to be made to the structure,
equipment, fittings, arrangements or materials associated with the ballast water
management plan need to be approved unless they are direct replacements.
23.2 Pursuant to regulation 31(3) and (4) whenever an accident or defect occurs
onboard the ship which substantially affects the ability of the ship to conduct
ballast water management in accordance with the Regulations, the owner must
notify the Certifying Authority who issued the IBWM Certificate in respect of the
ship. If the ship is in a port outside of the UK, the appropriate maritime authorities
in the country in which the port is situated should be notified. If the ship is a non-
United Kingdom ship and is in a port in the UK, the Secretary of State should be
notified using the following email address: [email protected].
23.3 “Direct replacement” means the direct replacement of equipment and fittings
with equipment and fittings that conform with the relevant requirements which
apply to that ship (regulation 31(7)). It is most likely to be applicable to consumable
parts.
24. Extension of Validity of IBWM Certificates
24.1 In certain circumstances a renewal survey might be undertaken following the
extension of validity of an IBWM Certificate, or after the date of expiry of an IBWM
Certificate. Where this happens, ordinarily the new IBWM Certificate would be valid
from the original date of expiry of the previous IBWM Certificate. However, the
owner of a ship may submit a request to the Secretary of State for the new period
of a ship’s IBWM Certificate to instead begin on the date of the completion of the
renewal survey (regulation 28(5)). For the purposes of regulation 28(5)(b),
examples of an owner being justified in making such a request might include:
where a ship has been laid up for an extended period, or
where the nature of a ship’s business would make a different date much more
convenient (such as in the case of a passenger ferry constructed in the summer
and whose main trade is in the summer, where the owner may want to have all
the refit and survey work done in the winter months).
24.2 In the latter case (a request to change the anniversary date for the sake of
convenience), the request will only be considered if such a request has not been
made before for the ship in question, and the owner confirms in writing to the MCA
that this is a one-off request for that ship. The confirmation should be sent to MCA,
Clean Ship Operations, Bay 2/23, Spring Place, 105 Commercial Road,
Southampton. SO15 1EG or e-mail: [email protected].
25. Guidance for Ports
25.1 Ports may find it useful to include some basic information relating to ballast
water on pre-arrival notifications or other relevant paperwork.
25.2 Useful information may include whether the ship is subject to the BWM
Convention/Regulations, if they are in compliance and whether they have a ballast
water management system on board. This allows ports a degree of oversight into
what is happening within their waters.
25.3 There is no obligation or responsibility placed on ports to monitor the
compliance of vessels on an ongoing basis. The degree to which ports require
information relating to ballast water management is a decision for the port.
25.4 A UK harbour master must immediately inform the Secretary of State if they
have reason to believe that a ship is not compliant with the Regulations and is
about to leave enter the harbour (regulation 42). UK harbour masters also have the
power to detain a ship where they have clear grounds for believing that an offence
has been committed in relation to the discharge of ballast water (regulation 41).
More information
Clean Ship Operations
Maritime and Coastguard Agency
Bay 2/23
Spring Place
105 Commercial Road
Southampton
SO15 1EG
Telephone: +44 (0)203 81 85139
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.gov.uk/mca (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/maritime-
and-coastguard-agency)
Please note that all addresses and telephone numbers are correct at time of
publishing.
1. The Guidelines were published in IMO Resolution MEPC.127(53). IMO
Resolutions are available from the IMO Library of 4 Albert Embankment, London
SE1 7SR.
2. The Guidelines were published in IMO Resolution MEPC.209(63).
3. The Guidelines were published in IMO Resolution MEPC.123(53).
4. The Guidelines were published in IMO Resolution MEPC.288(71).
5. Surveys will be undertaken in accordance with IMO guidelines in Resolution
A.1120(3) Survey Guidelines under the Harmonized System of Survey and
Certification.
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where otherwise stated © Crown copyright
