2 　　　Consideration of documentation submitted on ballast water management to MEPC 42

　　　The legal framework

2.1 　　　The Working Group took note of three options for the purpose of establishing regulations for the management and control of ballast water (MEPC 42/8/1) as follows:

.1　　　 amendments to an existing Annex to MARPOL 73/78;

.2 　　　a Protocol to add a new Annex to MARPOL 73/78 and

.3 　　　a　new Convention

In light of the Plenary's decision to defer the legal framework issue to the next session of the Committee the Working Group gave little further attention to this matter. The Secretariat was requested to prepare an outline of contents for each of the three options.

2.2 　　　General approval met the suggestion of the United States that legal experts should be included in delegations to the next session. Delegations also undertook to review their position concerning the legal framework during the intersessional period, and to report back at MEPC 43.

Review of draft regulations

2.3 　　　The Working Group Chairman recalled that the draft regulations and the code developed so far by the Working Group (MEPC 42/WP.1/Rev.1, annex 1) should be further revised and completed during this session for submission to the Plenary for consideration. Results of discussions on this matter are described in paragraphs 3.1 to 3.13 below.

Ballast Water Management Plan and Standard Reporting Format (MEPC 42/8/6; MEPC 42/8/8; MEPC 42/INF.33)

2.4 　　　1CS and INTERTANKO presented a Model Ballast Water Management Plan1 which is based upon the Ballast Water Management Guidelines adopted by IMO under Assembly resolution A.868(20). The Model Plan had been produced to assist shipowners and operators in developing an individual ballast water management plan for each ship in a consistent format. The booklet contains two parts: part A deals with ship and operating company guidance; and part B provides advice on national and international requirements, The Model Plan is structured as follows:

Section 1: Ship particulars. Information to identify the ship and overview of details requested by most quarantine authorities, as well as other relevant ship related information.

Section 2: Explanation of the need for ballast water management, and need for reporting to port States. Explains the necessity of the procedure and the required records.

Section 3: Ballast water arrangements on board. Summary of ship's ballast handling capability.

Section 4: Safety considerations. Specification of potential problems that may arise due to chosen ballast management option when ship is subject to certain circumstances.

Section 5: Procedures for managing ballast on board. Individual guidance on ballast handling procedures (step-by-step) which are suitable and known to be safe, including restrictions etc.

Section 6: Ballast water sampling points. Diagrams indicating sampling and access points, allowing crew members to assist port State officers in taking samples.

Section 7: Crew training and familiarization. Indication for crew members on where to find relevant material on ballast water treatment or exchange.

Section 8: Duties of appointed ballast water management officer. Duties depending on characteristics of ship, trade, crew etc.

Section 9: Ballast water reporting form and handling log. Example forms to serve as guide of information requested by quarantine officers.

Section 10: IMO Assembly Resolution A.868(20).

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1 　The publication can be obtained from: 　　　　International Chamber of Shipping 　　　　12 Carthusian Street 　　　　London ECIM 6EZ 　　　　United Kingdom 　　　　Email: ics@marisec.org

The International Association of Independent Tanker Owners Bogstadveien 27B PO Box 5804 Majorstua N-308 Oslo Norway Email: postmaster@intertanko.eom Internet: http://www.intcrtanko.com

Section 11: Summaries of existing national or local quarantine requirements for ballast water management. Shows information and needs that will have to be regularly reviewed and updated.

2.5 　　　The Working Group expressed its thanks to ICS and INTERTANKO for developing the model and recognized it as an useful instrument for generating individual Ballast Water Management Plans.

2.6 　　　The Working Group agreed that a list of detailed guidelines related to the ballast water management plan should be developed and be included in the Appendix/Annex to the Code.

Ballast water treatment and dilution method

2.7 　　　Brazil presented the results of a full-scale trial carried out on board M/V LAVRAS with its recently developed ballast water exchange method for oil carriers, the so-called dilution method (MEPC 42/8/3, MEPC 42/INF.14, Technical Report²). The results demonstrated that these tests were very successful: the exchange operation was safe and 90% of ballast water was changed; the analysis of samples confirmed that this method was effective in terms of aquatic species removal. The Working Group agreed to include the dilution method as an alternative method in the draft Code regarding ballast water management.

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