BWS MANAGEMENT STANDARDS BY IMO

Shipaxis Technical Services


BALLAST WATER MANAGEMENT STANDARDS - BY IMO

There are two ballast water management standards (D-1 and D-2).

The D-1 standard requires ships to exchange their ballast water in open seas, away from coastal areas. Ideally, this means at least 200 nautical miles from land and in water at least 200 metres deep. By doing this, fewer organisms will survive and so ships will be less likely to introduce potentially harmful species when they release the ballast water.
The D-2 standard specifies the maximum amount of viable organisms allowed to be discharged, including specified indicator microbes harmful to human health.
From the date of entry into force of the BWM Convention, all ships must conform to at least the D-1 standard; and all new ships, to the D-2 standard.
Eventually, all ships will have to conform to the D-2 standard. For most ships, this involves installing special equipment to treat the ballast water.
IMO Member Governments, meeting in the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC), have agreed an implementation timetable for existing ships, linked to the ship's International Oil Pollution Prevention Certificate (IOPPC) renewal survey.


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