Ballast water

• „Stowaways“ in ballast water
• Ballast Water Management Convention
• Exceptional rules for ballst water exchange in the Baltic Sea
• Complying with the D-2 standard / ballast water management systems

„Stowaways“ in ballast water

Seagoing ships with little or no cargo on board usually fill seawater into special ballast tanks to lower their centre of gravity. Such ballasting improves the stability and thereby the safety of the ship. However, the ballast water also contains small aquatic organisms such as bacteria, algae and crustaceans. These „stowaways“ are crossing the oceans before being released in coastal waters all over the world where they may create hazards to the environment. Furthermore, they can cause economic damage e. g. by blocking industrial cooling systems.

Ballast Water Management Convention

Due to increasing problems with invasive alien species from ballast water of sea-going ships, the IMO developed the Ballast Water Management Convention (BWM Convention). It entered into force on 8^th September 2017 and, essentially, it stipulates two standards. These have to be met in order for the ballast water to be deemed save in accordance with the Convention:

• D-1 standard and the
• D-2 standard (both documents in German only)

The D-1 standard is admissible for a transitional period and can be achieved by simple ballast water exchange. However, the stricter D-2 standard can only be achieved with an appropriate ballast water management system on board.

Moreover, IMO has developed several guidelines and circulars regarding the implementation of the Ballast Water Management Convention. You can find them by entering the key word, e.g. ballast water or BWMS, into our Document Search.

Implementation of the Ballast Water Management Convention in Germany

Germany joined the Ballast Water Management Convention on 13^th February 2013 with the Ballast Water Act. Additional regulations to the Ballast Water Convention and in regard to infringement procedures were stipulated in the “See-Umweltverhaltensverordnung (SeeUmwVerhV)” (ordinance on maritime environmental performance). 

Information on an exception from the obligation to conduct a ballast water exchange are given in the General ruling by the BSH and the FAQs on Environmental protection.

Further information regarding the implementation of the BWM-Convention in the North Sea and the Baltic Sea as well as practical examples are given in the information letter for the maritime shipping industry as well as in the FAQs on Environmental protection.

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Required ship documents

Every ship to which the BWM Convention applies is required to carry the following ship documents on board:

• a Ballast Water Management Plan,
• an International Ballast Water Management Certificate (IBWM Certificate), and
• a Ballast Water Record Book containing any ballast water operations.

Please note: As of 1st February 2025, a new form of the International Ballast Water Record Book is applicable, in accordance with Resolution MEPC.369(80) of the IMO enforced by the 4. SeeKlimaUmwÜEÄndV.

According to the Ballast Water Management Convention, merchant ships with a gross tonnage of 400 and over must have an International Ballast Water Management Certificate (IBWM Certificate). With this certificate, the respective flag state confirms that the management of the ballast water on board the ship complies with the requirements of the BWM Convention. The Ship Safety Division issues these certificates for the German flag.

Exceptional rules for ballst water exchange in the Baltic Sea

For years the neighbouring states of the North Sea and the Baltic Sea have worked within the framework of HELCOM and OSPAR for a coordinated and effective implementation of the BWM Convention.

For the Baltic Sea, HELCOM developed a “Guide for alien species and ballast water management” to reduce the negative effects of alien species in the Baltic Sea area. The guide is directed in particular at ships that travel the Baltic Sea and offers an overview of the global and regional measures for ballast water management. Among other things, the guide presents three guidance documents about ballast water exchange. They were published by IMO as circulars (cf. BWM.2 Circ.14 (2008), BWM.2 Circ.22 (2009) and BWM.2 Circ.39 (2012)).

Even though, the application of the D-1 standard has become mandadory, the guidance documents still hold helpful information about ballast water exchange of ships on voyages in the Northeast Atlantic, the Baltic Sea and the Mediterranean Sea.

If a ship is operated solely between specific ports or places, it is possible for the ship to be granted an exemption from the ballast water management, in accordance with A-4 of the BWM Convention. This is only possible, though, if, on the basis of port analyses and the appropriate risk assessment, a low risk for the environment, human health, property or resources is expected.

To this regard, HELCOM and OSPAR have developed the “Joint HELCOM/OSPAR Harmonised Procedure on the Granting of BWM Convention Exemptions”. It is based on IMO Guideline G-7 and stipulates an agreed procedure to grant exemptions for the Northeast Atlantic and the Baltic Sea in accordance with A-4 of the BWM Convention. The document is continually reviewed by HELCOM and OSPAR and is regularly updated in the course of new insights.

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Complying with the D-2 standard / Ballast water management systems

Requirements for ships flying the German Flag

Please refer to the Public Announcement regarding requirements for ballast water management systems for ships flying the German Flag.

Approval

The Ballast Water Management Convention stipulates an approval of ballast water management systems (BWMS) by the Flag State whose ships are to be fitted with such systems. The Code for Approvals of Ballast Water Management Systems (BWMS Code) contains the details for the approval of BWMS; the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH) issues a certificate of the type approval.

Ballast water management systems using active substances can only be approved, if the environmental and operational soundness of the active substance has been demonstrated. The Marine Environmental Protection Committee (MEPC) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) approves active substances, supported by the expert group GESAMP (Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Environmental Protection). Approvals of systems using active substances are based on the Procedure for approval of ballast water management systems that make use of active substances (G9).

In Germany, the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH) is responsible for the approval of BWMS. The BSH is supported by experts of the Federal institute for risk assessment, the German Environment Agency and the BG Verkehr.

By now a sufficient number of BWMS that are in complaince with the IMO standards are available on the market. Find out more about ballast water management systems and their approval.

Periods of grace

After the International BWM Convention entered into force, the IMO Maritime Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) clarified which ships require a BWMS and at which point in time.

Existing ships (not newbuildings)

There is a period of grace of two years for existing ships. This period of grace is linked to the renewal survey for the IOPP Certificate.

• In general, existing ships have to comply with the D-2 standard after 8 September 2019 from the the first renewal of the IOPP Certificate.
• If the IOPP Certificate had already been renewed between 8 September 2014 and 8 September 2017, a BWMS has to be installed (= latest opportunity for the following renewal of the IOPP Certificate).
• If the IOPP Certificate was renewed between 8 September 2017 and 8 September 2019, a BWMS has to be installed at the latest on 8 September 2024 (= latest opportunity for the subsequent second renewal).

Newbuildings

Newbuildings where the keel was layed on or after 8 September 2017 must have an approved BWMS on board and comply with the stricter D-2 standard from the onset.

Small ships

Ships with a size of less than 400 GT receive a period of grace till 8 September 2024 to comply with the D-2 standard.

Further information on the periods of grace is given in ISM Circular 02/2017 of 17 July 2017.

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