Ballast Water Discharge: Actions When a Coastal State Has Specific Procedures vs. None

When a coastal state has specific ballast water discharge procedures, the vessel must follow the agreed reporting procedures, contact its agent and/or company for the latest requirements, plan ahead, and keep records ready for inspection. When the coastal state has no specific procedures, the vessel still contacts its agent and/or company for the latest information, but carries out the discharge according to its Ballast Water Management Plan (BWMP), while meeting the same safety, planning, and record-keeping obligations. In both cases, the responsibility for compliance with port state requirements generally rests with the vessel owner and the vessel.

Why the Distinction Matters

The requirements and roles of national and local authorities vary widely between states — and even from port to port. A Ballast Water Management Plan contains procedures to help the Master coordinate ballast discharge in the waters of a coastal state, local government, or other involved party. Quick, effective communication between the vessel and the coastal state (or other involved party) is vital to mitigating the effects of an unnecessary delay.

Because of this variation, the Master and the responsible officer should obtain all necessary information in good time and prepare the vessel accordingly, taking into account the safety and operational restrictions described in the plan and relevant sections.

Actions When the Coastal State Has Specific Procedures

• Follow agreed reporting procedures. Use the reporting arrangements established with the coastal state or other involved party.
• Contact the vessel's agent and/or company to ascertain the latest information on ballast discharge requirements in the waters of the respective state.
• Plan timely for the above actions and confirm that safety and operational restrictions are met.
• Keep proper records and have them readily available for possible inspection.

Actions When the Coastal State Has No Specific Procedures

• Contact the vessel's agent and/or company to obtain the latest information on ballast discharge requirements in the waters of the respective state.
• Carry out the discharge of ballast water as per the Ballast Water Management Plan.
• Take into account the safety and operational procedures related to the discharge in question.
• Keep proper records and have them readily available for possible inspection.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Practical Notes for the Master and Responsible Officer

• Contact port state authorities before arrival. Specific ballast water discharge requirements and reporting should be obtained from port state authorities prior to the vessel's arrival in the port state's territorial waters.
• Use the company and local agent as your information channel. Information on specific port state procedures can be obtained by consulting the company and local agent for the latest information and requirements.
• Do not treat "no specific procedures" as "no requirements." Even where the coastal state has no specific procedures, the discharge must still follow the BWMP, and records must still be maintained for inspection.
• Treat compliance as a shared vessel/owner responsibility. In the majority of coastal states, responsibility for compliance with port state requirements is placed on the vessel owner and the vessel.

Reference: Ballast Water Management Plan (BWMP), as published on Marine Engineering – Information for Marine Engineers (marineengineeringonline.com).