TOPICS/ISSUES
Ports with Challenging Water Quality
Members have been encountering issues with their Ballast Water Management System (BWMS) at ports with challenging water quality.
INTERTANKO has requested for the International Maritime Organization (IMO)’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) to consider issuing a clarifying MEPC circular to enable stakeholders, including both Member States and shipowners to have clear expectations in terms of ballast water management at ports with challenging water quality. A uniform approach to ballast water management at ports with challenging water quality would help ships to better manage their ballast water related operations and enable compliance with the Convention.
INTERTANKO is participating in discussions on the development of guidance for ships operating in PCWQ under the Ballast Water Management Convention. In July 2023, MEPC 80 identified important considerations for the guidance, including its temporary nature, pre-emptive bypassing of BWMS, crew familiarity with equipment and operations, stakeholder roles, and returning to D-2 compliance after a BWMS bypass. The guidance is seen as an interim measure, to be replaced by permanent guidance developed through the Experience Building Phase. The guidance is expected to be finalised at MEPC 81 (April 2024).
INTERTANKO is collaborating with like-minded Member States to further develop the guidance for ships operating in PCWQ. The aim is to promote consistency among Flag Administrations and Port State Controls, thereby reducing discrepancies in the enforcement of the BWM Convention worldwide.
To push this issue forward, Members are encouraged to continue submitting a report to the Secretariat should their ships experience any problems with BWMS due to port water conditions. The information will be useful as a due diligence tool for Members trading in certain ports, while a global perspective and estimated extent of the problem will also be useful for INTERTANKO and its Members when liaising with national and international authorities. It could also gather information on the type of BWMS associated with the failures.
The data could assist in a global approach and can act as a historical record of the experience of vessels and their interactions with the respective port States. This factual log could also be used when Members need further justifications for a bypass when encountering issues faced in PCWQ.
Based on feedback from Members, a list of ports identified with water conditions affecting BWMS can be accessed here.
The list of challenging water quality reports submitted by Members can be accessed here.
Members can submit a report to the Secretariat via the following means:
Note: The spreadsheet can be sent directly to INTERTANKO or collated and sent by the office as suits. Do send the spreadsheet to environment@intertanko.com
Contact
Tim Wilkins
Deputy Managing Director, Environment Director
e: tim.wilkins@intertanko.com
t: +44 20 7977 7012
Elfian Harun
Regional Manager SE Asia & Environment Manager
e: elfian.harun@intertanko.com
t: +65 6333 4007
William Sturdy
Assistant Manager Environment
e: william.sturdy@intertanko.com
t: +44 (0)20 7977 7020
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Key Resources
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