Introduction to the ballast Water Management Plan (BWMP) on Ships
What is Ballast Water Management Plan?
Ballast water is essential to control trim, list, draught, stability, or stresses of the vessel. However, ballast water may contain aquatic organisms or pathogens which, if introduced into the sea including estuaries, or into fresh water courses, may create hazards to the environment, human health, property or resources, impair biological diversity or interfere with other legitimate uses of such areas.
Ballast Water Management Plan (BWMP) is written in accordance with the requirements of Regulation B-1 of the International Convention for the Control and Management of Vessels’ Ballast Water and Sediments, 2004 (the Convention) and the associated Guidelines.
The purpose of the Ballast Water Management Plan (BWMP) is to meet the requirements for the control and management of vessel’s ballast water and sediments in accordance with the Guidelines for Ballast Water Management and the Development of Ballast Water Management Plans (G4) resolution MEPC.127(53). It provides standard operational guidance for the planning and management of vessels’ ballast water and sediments and describes safe procedures to be followed.
The selection of appropriate methods of Ballast Water Management should take into account the need to ensure that Ballast Water Management practices used to comply with the Convention do not cause greater harm to the environment, human health, property or resources of any States and the safety of vessels, than they prevent.
The Ballast Water Management Plan (BWMP) has to be approved by the Class and no alteration or revision shall be made to any part of it without the prior approval of the Class.
This plan must be kept available for inspection on request by an authorized authority.
What is the purpose of the Ballast Water Management Plan?
The ballast water management plan aims to assist governments, appropriate authorities, vessels’ Masters, operators, owners, port authorities as well as other interested parties, in preventing, minimizing and ultimately eliminating the risk of introducing harmful aquatic organisms and pathogens from vessels’ ballast water and associated sediments while protecting vessels’ safety.
Good record keeping is critical to the success of a sound ballast water management program. The appointed ballast water management officer is responsible for ensuring the maintenance of appropriate records and that the ballast water management and treatment procedures are followed and recorded. (In the Ballast Water form and record book).
It is the owners/managers or Master’s responsibility to regularly review the plan and ensure that the information contained therein is accurate and updated.
Reference: The Ballast Water Management Plan (BWMP)