03-2010 - On-board Ballast Water Management Systems - verification trial

Advice to Agents – Seaports – 03/2010

On-board Ballast Water Management Systems - verification trial 

Shipping Agents/Operators

The Australian Quarantine & Inspection Service (AQIS) is the lead Australian agency in the regulation of internationally sourced ballast water.

The International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments (BWM Convention) stipulates a gradual introduction of Ballast Water Management Systems (BWMS) as the recognised and approved method of ballast water management with the phase out of current deep ocean exchange.

AQIS is aware that ships are installing BWMS and intend to utilise them to meet Australia’s ballast water management requirements.  As the Convention is not yet in force, documentation and certification of BWMS may differ between ships.

AQIS is currently seeking applications from vessels to use a BWMS to manage their ballast water prior to the Convention coming into effect.  Vessels are required to manage their ballast water via existing methods (e.g. deep ocean exchange) until the approval to use a BWMS has been issued.

AQIS will only consider applications to use an IMO Type approved BWMS on a case by case basis.   That is, only BWMS that have received Type-approval in accordance with the IMO’s BWM Convention and supporting Guidelines 8 and 9.

Ship Agents and Operators are requested to notify AQIS of any arriving vessels fitted with a BWMS with intended use to satisfy the Australian BWM Requirements.   The following should be provided to AQIS:

-          Vessel details (name, IMO, call sign, vessel type)
-          Details of the BWMS (name, make, approving Administration)
-          Planned arrival (port, date and time)
-          Discharge intentions (full ballast capacity and forecast discharge volume)
-          Copy of Type Approval Certificate and Ballast Water Certificate
-          Ballast pump capacity (rated, if available)
-          Further voyage intentions (i.e. Victorian arrival, departing Australia etc)

This information should be provided as soon as possible but at least 96 to 12 hours prior to arrival to allow AQIS to prepare to assess the status of the BWMS.  Cooperation will be sought from vessels in the form of providing access for AQIS and DAFF officers to assist in the verification.

The vessel will be provided with an approval to use the system on future visits to Australia should it meet AQIS’s verification requirements.  Vessels will continue to be inspected on arrival and ballast water management verified as a part of the pratique inspection.

If you would like to discuss these requirements, please contact:

Peter Neimanis
Switchboard: +61 2 6272 3933
Email

[signed] 

 
Stephen Tognolini
National Manager A/g
Seaports Program
22 March 2010