ANNEX
REGULATIONS FOR THE CONTROL AND MANAGEMENT OF SHIPS'
BALLAST WATER AND SEDIMENTS
SECTION A - GENERAL PROVISIONS
Regulation A-1 Definitions
For the purposes of this Annex:
1 "Anniversary date" means the day and the month of each year corresponding to the date of expiry of the Certificate.
2 "Ballast Water Capacity" means the total volumetric capacity of any tanks, spaces or compartments on a ship used for carrying, loading or discharging Ballast Water, including any multi-use tank, space or compartment designed to allow carriage of Ballast Water.
3 "Company" means the owner of the ship or any other organization or person such as the manager, or the bareboat charterer, who has assumed the responsibility for operation of the ship from the owner of the ship and who on assuming such responsibility has agreed to take over all the duties and responsibilities imposed by the International Safety Management Code1.
4 "Constructed' in respect of a ship means a stage of construction where:
.1 the keel is laid; or
.2 construction identifiable with the specific ship begins;
.3 assembly of the ship has commenced comprising at least 50 tonnes or 1 percent of the estimated mass of all structural material, whichever is less; or
.4 the ship undergoes a major conversion.
5 "Major conversion" means a conversion of a ship:
.1 which changes its ballast water carrying capacity by 1 5 percent or greater, or
.2 which changes the ship type, or
.3 which, in the opinion of the Administration, is projected to prolong its life by ten years or more, or
.4 which results in modifications to its ballast water system other than component replacement-in-kind. Conversion of a ship to meet the provisions of regulation D- I shall not be deemed to constitute a major conversion for the purpose of this Annex.
6 "From the nearest land" means from the baseline from which the territorial sea of the territory in question is established in accordance with international law except that, for the purposes of the Convention, "from the nearest land" off the north-eastern coast of Australia shall mean from a line drawn from a point on the coast of Australia in
latitude 11°00'S, longitude 142°08'E
to a point in latitude 10°35'S, longitude 141°55'E
thence to a point latitude 10°00'S. longitude 142°00'E
thence to a point latitude 9°10'S, longitude 143°52'E
thence to a point latitude 9°00'S, longitude 144°30'E
thence to a point latitude 10°41'S, longitude 145°00'E
thence to a point latitude 13°00 S, longitude 145°00'E
thence to a point latitude 1 5°00'S, longitude 146°00'E
thence to a point latitude 17°30'S, longitude 147°00'E
thence to a point latitude 21°00'S, longitude 152°55'E
thence to a point latitude 24°30'S, longitude 154°00'E
thence to a point on the coast of Australia
in latitude 24°42'S, longitude 153°15'E.
7 "Active Substance" means a substance or organism, including a virus or a fungus, that has a general or specific action on or against Harmful Aquatic Organisms and Pathogens.
Regulation A-2 General Applicability
Except where expressly provided otherwise, the discharge of Ballast Water shall only be conducted through Ballast Water Management in accordance with the provisions of this Annex.
Regulation A-3 Exceptions
The requirements of regulation B-3, or any measures adopted by a Party pursuant to Article 2.3 and Section C, shall not apply to:
1 the uptake or discharge of Ballast Water and Sediments necessary for the purpose of ensuring the safety of a ship in emergency situations or saving life at sea; or
2 the accidental discharge or ingress of Ballast Water and Sediments resulting from damage to a ship or its equipment:
.1 provided that all reasonable precautions have been taken before and after the occurrence of the damage or discovery of the damage or discharge for the purpose of preventing or minimizing the discharge; and
.2 unless the owner, Company or officer in charge wilfully or recklessly caused damage; or
3 the uptake and discharge of Ballast Water and Sediments when being used for the purpose of avoiding or minimizing pollution incidents from the ship; or
4 the uptake and subsequent discharge on the high seas of the same Ballast Water and Sediments; or
5 the discharge of Ballast Water and Sediments from a ship at the same location where the whole of that Ballast Water and those Sediments originated and provided that no mixing with unmanaged Ballast Water and Sediments from other areas has occurred. If mixing has occurred, the Ballast Water taken from other areas is subject to Ballast Water Management in accordance with this Annex.
Regulation A-4 Exemptions
1 A Party or Parties, in waters under their jurisdiction, may grant exemptions to any requirements to apply regulations B-3 or C-1, in addition to those exemptions contained elsewhere in this Convention, but only when they are:
.1 granted to a ship or ships on a voyage or voyages between specified ports or locations; or to a ship which operates exclusively between specified ports or locations;
.2 effective for a period of no more than five years subject to intermediate review;
.3 granted to ships that do not mix Ballast Water or Sediments other than between the ports or locations specified in paragraph 1.1 ; and
.4 granted based on the Guidelines on risk assessment developed by the Organization.
2 Exemptions granted pursuant to paragraph 1 shall not be effective until after communication to the Organization and circulation of relevant information to the Parties.
3 Any exemptions granted under this regulation shall not impair or damage the environment, human health, property or resources of adjacent or other States. Any State that the Party determines may be adversely affected shall be consulted, with a view to resolving any identified concerns.
4 Any exemptions granted under this regulation shall be recorded in the Ballast Water record book.
Regulation A-5 Equivalent compliance
Equivalent compliance with this Annex for pleasure craft used solely for recreation or competition or craft used primarily for search and rescue, less than 50 metres in length overall, and with a maximum Ballast Water capacity of 8 cubic metres, shall be determined by the Administration taking into account Guidelines developed by the Organization.
SECTION B - MANAGEMENT AND CONTROL REQUIREMENTS FOR SHIPS
Regulation B-1 Ballast Water Management Plan
Each ship shall have on board and implement a Ballast Water Management plan. Such a plan shall be approved by the Administration taking into account Guidelines developed by the Organization. The Ballast Water Management plan shall be specific to each ship and shall at least:
1 detail safety procedures for the ship and the crew associated with Ballast Water Management as required by this Convention;
2 provide a detailed description of the actions to be taken to implement the Ballast Water Management requirements and supplemental Ballast Water Management practices as set forth in this Convention;
3 detail the procedures for the disposal of Sediments:
.1 at sea; and
.2 to shore;
4 include the procedures for coordinating shipboard Ballast Water Management that involves discharge to the sea with the authorities of the State into whose waters such discharge will take place;
5 designate the officer on board in charge of ensuring that the plan is properly implemented;
6 contain the reporting requirements for ships provided for under this Convention; and
7 be written in the working language of the ship. If the language used is not English, French or Spanish, a translation into one of these languages shall be included.
Regulation B-2 Ballast Water Record Book
1 Each ship shall have on board a Ballast Water record book that may be an electronic record system, or that may be integrated into another record book or system and, which shall at least contain the information specified in Appendix II.
2 Ballast Water record book entries shall be maintained on board the ship for a minimum period of two years after the last entry has been made and thereafter in the Company's control for a minimum period of three years.
3 In the event of the discharge of Ballast Water pursuant to regulations A-3, A-4 or B-3.6 or in the event of other accidental or exceptional discharge of Ballast Water not otherwise exempted by this Convention, an entry shall be made in the Ballast Water record book describing the circumstances of, and the reason for, the discharge.
4 The Ballast Water record book shall be kept readily available for inspection at all reasonable times and, in the case of an unmanned ship under tow, may be kept on the towing ship.
5 Each operation concerning Ballast Water shall be fully recorded without delay in the Ballast Water record book. Each entry shall be signed by the officer in charge of the operation concerned and each completed page shall be signed by the master. The entries in the Ballast Water record book shall be in a working language of the ship. If that language is not English, French or Spanish the entries shall contain a translation into one of those languages. When entries in an official national language of the State whose flag the ship is entitled to fly are also used, these shall prevail in case of a dispute or discrepancy.
6 Officers duly authorized by a Party may inspect the Ballast Water record book on board any ship to which this regulation applies while the ship is in its port or offshore terminal, and may make a copy of any entry, and require the master to certify that the copy is a true copy. Any copy so certified shall be admissible in any judicial proceeding as evidence of the facts stated in the entry. The inspection of a Ballast Water record book and the taking of a certified copy shall be performed as expeditiously as possible without causing the ship to be unduly delayed.
Regulation B-3 Ballast Water Management for Ships
1 A ship constructed before 2009:
.1 with a Ballast Water Capacity of between 1,500 and 5,000 cubic metres, inclusive, shall conduct Ballast Water Management that at least meets the standard described in regulation D-1 or regulation D-2 until 2014, after which time it shall at least meet the standard described in regulation D-2;
.2 with a Ballast Water Capacity of less than 1,500 or greater than 5,000 cubic metres shall conduct Ballast Water Management that at least meets the standard described in regulation D-1 or regulation D-2 until 2016, after which time it shall at least meet the standard described in regulation D-2.
2 A ship to which paragraph 1 applies shall comply with paragraph 1 not later than the first intermediate or renewal survey, whichever occurs first, after the anniversary date of delivery of the ship in the year of compliance with the standard applicable to the ship.
3 A ship constructed in or after 2009 with a Ballast Water Capacity of less than 5,000 cubic metres shall conduct Ballast Water Management that at least meets the standard described in regulation D-2.
4 A ship constructed in or after 2009, but before 2012, with a Ballast Water Capacity of 5,000 cubic metres or more shall conduct Ballast Water Management in accordance with paragraph 1.2.
5 A ship constructed in or after 2012 with a Ballast Water Capacity of 5000 cubic metres or more shall conduct Ballast Water Management that at least meets the standard described in regulation D-2.
6 The requirements of this regulation do not apply to ships that discharge Ballast Water to a reception facility designed taking into account the Guidelines developed by the Organization for such facilities.
7 Other methods of Ballast Water Management may also be accepted as alternatives to the requirements described in paragraphs 1 to 5, provided that such methods ensure at least the same level of protection to the environment, human health, property or resources, and are approved in principle by the Committee.
Regulation B-4 Ballast Water Exchange
1 A ship conducting Ballast Water exchange to meet the standard in regulation D-1 shall:
.1 whenever possible, conduct such Ballast Water exchange at least 200 nautical miles from the nearest land and in water at least 200 metres in depth, taking into account the Guidelines developed by the Organization;
.2 in cases where the ship is unable to conduct Ballast Water exchange in accordance with paragraph 1.1, such Ballast Water exchange shall be conducted taking into account the Guidelines described in paragraph 1.1 and as far from the nearest land as possible, and in all cases at least 50 nautical miles from the nearest land and in water at least 200 metres in depth.
2 In sea areas where the distance from the nearest land or the depth does not meet the parameters described in paragraph 1.1 or 1.2, the port State may designate areas, in consultation with adjacent or other States, as appropriate, where a ship may conduct Ballast Water exchange, taking into account the Guidelines described in paragraph 1.1.
3 A ship shall not be required to deviate from its intended voyage, or delay the voyage, in order to comply with any particular requirement of paragraph 1.
4 A ship conducting Ballast Water exchange shall not be required to comply with paragraphs 1 or 2, as appropriate, if the master reasonably decides that such exchange would threaten the safety or stability of the ship, its crew, or its passengers because of adverse weather, ship design or stress, equipment failure, or any other extraordinary condition.
5 When a ship is required to conduct Ballast Water exchange and does not do so in accordance with this regulation, the reasons shall be entered in the Ballast Water record book.
Regulation B-5 Sediment Management for Ships
1 All ships shall remove and dispose of Sediments from spaces designated to carry Ballast Water in accordance with the provisions of the ship's Ballast Water Management plan.
2 Ships described in regulation B-3.3 to B-3.5 should, without compromising safety or operational efficiency, be designed and constructed with a view to minimize the uptake and undesirable entrapment of Sediments, facilitate removal of Sediments, and provide safe access to allow for Sediment removal and sampling, taking into account guidelines developed by the Organization. Ships described in regulation B-3. 1 should, to the extent practicable, comply with this paragraph.
Regulation B-6 Duties of Officers and Crew
Officers and crew shall be familiar with their duties in the implementation of Ballast Water Management particular to the ship on which they serve and shall, appropriate to their duties, be familiar with the ship's Ballast Water Management plan.
1 Refer to the ISM Code adopted by the Organization by resolution A.741(18), as amended.
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