IMSML Website Article 02/2025: Resolution MEPC.370(80) - Amendments to the Guidelines for Ballast Water Management and Development of Ballast Water Record Keeping and Reporting

The focus of Resolution MSC.370(80) was made by the Marine Environment Protection Committee at its 80th Session.  The G4 Development of Ballast Water Management Plans / Guidelines were originally made by Resolution MEPC.127(53) and amended by Resolution MEPC.306(73). The focus of this article, Resolution MEPC.370(80) amends Paragraph 2.1.2 of the Guideline for Ballast Water Management and Development of Ballast Water Management Plans (G4), which concerns mainly ballast water record keeping and reporting. Resolution MEPC.370(80) is applicable in Malaysia via Malaysian Shipping Notice (MSN) 14/2023.

ANNEX, see Annex 4, p 2

Section 1 provides for an amendment of Paragraph 2.1.2 of PART A of the Guidelines for Ballast Water Management and the Development of Ballast Water Management Plans (G4):

[1] When any ballast water operations are being carried out, this shall be recorded in the Ballast Water Record Book;

[2] Any exemptions granted in accordance with Regulation B-3 or C-1 also have to be recorded;

[3] When these records are being made, the following need to be taken into account:

‘The Guidance on ballast water record-keeping and reporting (BWM.2/Circ.80, as may be amended)’.

Section 2 provides for a new Paragraph 2.1.2 bis which is also inserted in PART A of the Guidelines for ballast water management and the development of Ballast Water Management Plans (G4). A port State requires specific information regarding the management of ballast water when a ship is bound for the following in that port state:

[1] A port;

[2] An offshore terminal;

[3] An anchorage area.

The new Paragraph 2.1.2 bis also provides that:

[1] The completed ballast water reporting form (BWRF) may be submitted prior to entry into the Port State;

[2] The submission of the form must be within the time frame required by the Port State;

[3] Although not mandatory, records should be kept on a tank-by-tank basis.

[4] Specific tank record keeping will help with the completion of a BWRF;

[5] The form for tank-by-tank record keeping is found annex to the ‘Guidance on ballast water record-keeping and reporting’.

Thank you for reading IMSML Website Article 02/2024

Stay tuned for the next IMSML Website Article 03/2025: Resolution MEPC.370(80) - Amendments to the Guidelines for Ballast Water Exchange (G6)

Signing-off for today,

Dr Irwin Ooi Ui Joo, LL.B(Hons.)(Glamorgan); LL.M (Cardiff); Ph.D (Cardiff); CMILT

Professor of Maritime and Transport Law

Head of the Centre for Advocacy and Dispute Resolution

Faculty of Law

Universiti Teknologi MARA Shah Alam

Selangor, Malaysia

Tuesday,  14 January 2025

Note that I am the corresponding author for the IMSML Website Articles. My official email address is: uijoo310@uitm.edu.my