Periods of grace for BWMS

The Ballast Water Management Convention entered into force on 8th of September 2017. The Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) of the IMO has clarified which ships will need a ballast water management system and when.

1. Existing ships (not new buildings)

For existing ships, a two-year period of grace is in place. This period of grace is linked to the renewal of the IOPP Certificate.

a) In general, existing ships have to comply with the D2 Standard (= ballast water management system) from the first renewal after 08.09.2019.

b) If the IOPP Certificate is already or will be renewed between 08.09.2014 and 08.09.2017, the ballast water management system (= D2 Standard) has to be installed by 08.09.2022 at the latest (= latest possible time for the following renewal of the IOPP Certificate).

c) If the IOPP Certificate will be renewed between 08.09.2017 and 08.09.2019, the ballast water management system has to be installed by 08.09.2014 at the latest (= latest possible time for the following second renewal).

Period of grace BWMS (klein)

2. Newly built ships

Newly built ships with a keel laying date on or after 08.09.2017 have to have a ballast water management system on board from the outset and comply with the D2 Standard.

3.Smaller ships

Ships with a size of under 400 GT receive a period of grace until 08.09.2024 to comply with the D2 Standard.

Further information about the periods of grace is available in our ISM Circular 02/2017 of 17.07.2017.