The IMO BWM Convention enters into force on 8 September 2017 and shipowners, crews and shore side stakeholders - sooner rather than later - should start planning and implementing the required procedures for the safe and compliant handling of ballast water.
The US Senate has approved changes to the VIDA Bill (formerly known as Commercial Vessel Incidental Discharge Act, CVIDA), creating a new approach for regulating ballast water discharges from vessels while recognizing special regional situations.
The USCG has recently modified its policy with regards to the granting of extended compliance dates for Ballast Water management systems. Analysis and information on these changes have been kindly provided by the Chamber of Shipping of America (CSA) as well as a USCG document on Highlights and Tips... Please follow the link to continue reading.
Shipowners are being invited to submit data and information directly to the World Maritime University on the Ballast Water Convention to build a complete and realistic picture of how it is really working.
BIMCO and Fathom have published an updated 2016 edition of their practical, step-by-step guidance publication that helps shipowners understand ballast water management requirements.
The background for this publication is the new regulations relating to ballast water that have changed dramatically in recent years and the operational aspect of the running of a ship has undergone a major overhaul.
Shipowners are being invited to submit data and information directly to the World Maritime University on the Ballast Water Convention to build a complete and realistic picture of how it is really working.
As reported some years ago under the heading "Ukraine Ballast Water Problems in Ports" this still seems to be a problematic issue as BIMCO has received an update from the the Japan Ship Owners' Mutual Protection & Indemnity Association.
