What Does a Coastal State Require for a Ship's Ballast Water Management Plan?

A coastal state's requirements for a ship's Ballast Water Management Plan (BWMP) are not uniform: they vary widely between states and even from port to port. What the ship must do is confirm the specific discharge and reporting requirements before arrival, follow the agreed reporting procedures, and keep records ready for inspection. In most coastal states, responsibility for complying with port state requirements rests with the vessel owner and the vessel.

What the BWMP is for

The Ballast Water Management Plan contains procedures to help the Master coordinate the discharge of ballast in the waters of a coastal state, local government, or other involved party. Because requirements differ so much from one authority to the next, quick and effective communication between the vessel and the coastal state (or other involved party) is what mitigates the effects of an unnecessary delay.

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 in the relevant sections.

Where to get the specific requirements

Specific port state procedures are not something the ship is expected to know in advance from a single source. They are obtained by consulting:

• the company, and
• the local agent,

for the latest information and requirements. Port state authorities should be contacted for specific ballast water discharge requirements and reporting prior to the vessel's arrival in the port state's territorial waters.

If the coastal state has specific discharge procedures

Where a coastal state has specific procedures for the discharge of ballast water, the vessel should:

1. Follow the agreed reporting procedures.
2. Contact the vessel's agent and/or company to ascertain the latest information on ballast discharge requirements in the waters of the respective state.
3. Plan for the above actions in good time, ensuring that safety and operational restrictions are met.
4. Keep proper records and have them readily available for possible inspection.

If the coastal state has no specific procedures

Where a coastal state has no specific procedures for the discharge of ballast water, the vessel should:

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

The two cases side by side

The common thread in both cases is the same: confirm requirements through the agent or company, plan ahead, and keep records inspection-ready. The difference is that when the coastal state has its own procedures, those procedures govern the reporting and discharge; when it does not, the vessel's own BWMP is the operating document.

Practical points to keep in mind

• Requirements and the roles of the various national and local authorities differ between states and between ports, so past experience in one port is not a reliable guide for the next.
• The compliance burden sits with the vessel owner and the vessel in the majority of coastal states.
• Contacting the port state before entering territorial waters is the step that prevents avoidable delays, not a formality after arrival.

Reference: Ballast Water Management Plan (BWMP).