KR Webzine Vol.112

The BWM Convention (International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments, 2004. hereinafter BWM Convention), was formally adopted in 2004, and is the international measure to prevent and minimize the risk from spread of harmful and invasive aquatic species transferred from ships ballast water.  It will enter into force on 8 September 2017. 

Ballast Water Management Plans (BWMP) must be approved by September 8, 2017 in order to be issued with an IBWM Certificate. However, in the case of PANAMA and LIBERIA, both the BWMP approval and issuance of IBWM Certificate are being conducted by the flag states themselves.

(See Technical Information 2017-IMO-06 and 2017-IMO-08 for details).

So far, the number of applications for BWMP approval has been low, considering the limited time frame until the effective date of the BWM Convention.

As a result, the number of applications for BWMP approval are expected to increase dramatically in the second half of this year.

If the applications for approval are concentrated over a short period of time, it may cause inconvenience as approvals may be delayed, with the issuance of IBWM Certificates delayed too.

Therefore, we would appreciate if you could cooperate with the Environment & Piping team, at the earliest possible opportuity, and we ask you to submit your application for BWMP approval as early as possible.

Environment & Piping Team / E-mail : piping@krs.co.kr / Fax : +82 70 8799 8519

Furthermore, all ships to which BWM Convention applies on or after the date of entry into force of the Convention, must comply with the Ballast Water Exchange procedures in accordance with Reg.D-1 or Ballast Water Management by BWMS in accordance with Reg.D-2.

In this regard, we would like to provide our customers with the requirements and references on the Ballast Water Exchange in accordance with Reg.D-1. Ship owners, builders and related stakeholders are kindly invited to pay full attention and to take the necessary action to implement this Convention accordingly.