Technical Circular No: 023/2025
1. A Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) on Ballast Water Management will be commenced by the member authorities of Tokyo and Paris Memoranda of Understanding (MoU’s) on Port State Control from 1st September 2025.
2. The inspection campaign will be held for three (3) months, beginning from 1st September 2025 and ending on 30th November 2025.
3. The purpose of the CIC is to promote the effective and consistent implementation of the Ballast Water Management (BWM) Convention on Ship.
4. The following items will be verified during port state inspections by the member authorities of Tokyo and Paris MoU:
- Proper certification for BWM Convention.
- Approval and update of the Ballast Water Management Plan (BWMP);
- Crew familiarization in the implementation of the BWMP;
- Ballast Water Management System approval and its operation;
- Records of Ballast Water Record Book (BWRB);
- Ballast water sediment management; and
- Valid exemptions, if any.
5. During the campaign period, the Port State Control Officers (PSCOs) will use pre-defined questionnaire to assess the adequacy and adherence of Ships BWM requirements, that the master and crew members are familiar with operations relating to BWMP and that equipment is properly maintained and functioning.
6. Deficiencies found during the inspection will be recorded by the PSC officer and actions may vary from recording a deficiency and instructing the master to rectify it within a certain period of time, to detaining the ship until serious deficiencies have been rectified.
7. Accordingly, Owners and managers of the Shipping Companies are advised that the ship’s Masters are communicated to ensure that Ballast Water Management System is maintained properly onboard and comply with the relevant requirements.
8. A list of deficiencies noted during the PSC inspections with respect to Ballast Water Management is attached to this technical circular for ready reference. Ship owners & managers to verify and ensure similar deficiencies do not exist on their ships.
Enclosure:
- Press Release by Paris and Tokyo MoU
- List of Common PSC finding with respect to Ballast Water Management
This Technical Circular and the material contained in it is provided only for the purpose of supplying current information to the reader and not as an advice to be relied upon by any person. While we have taken utmost care to be as factual as possible, readers/ users are advised to verify the exact text and content of the Regulation from the original source/ issuing Authority.