9 Ships' Operational Procedures
9.1 General Precautionary Practices
9.1.1 Minimizing Uptake of Harmful Aquatic Organisms and Sediments
When loading ballast and it is possible to do so, every effort should be made to avoid the uptake of potentially harmful aquatic organisms and sediment that may contain such organisms. The uptake of ballast water should be minimized or where practicable avoided:
- in areas with disease and pathogen outbreaks communicable through ballast water which may affect humans or aquatic organisms;
- in areas with current toxic phytoplankton blooms (hamaful algal blooms, such as red tides);
- near sewage outfalls or dredging operations;
- at night when bottom-dwelling organisms may rise up in the water column;
- in very shallow water;
- when the incoming or outgoing tide is known to be the more turbid; and
- where tidal flushing is poor.
9.1.2 Removing Ballast Sediment on a Timely Basis
Where practicable, routine cleaning of the ballast tank to remove sediments should be regularly undertaken in accordance with the provisions of the ship's ballast water manual, for example by:
- various flushing techniques to be developed (for example, ballasting up a small quantity of water in an empty tank and then deballasting again); and
- discharging a small quantity of water prior to entering a port and preferably well outside the port, to clear out any sediment that may have accumulated around the ballast tank outlet pipe.
9.1.3 Avoiding Unnecessary Transportation of Ballast Water
If water is taken on to maintain trim during cargo loading operations, loading and unloading of ballast water should be conducted in the same harbour [to be defined] when possible.
9.1.4 Precautionary Practices that may be Recommended or Required
[LIST TO FOLLOW]
