1 Introduction
Clasification Society 2024 - Version 9.40
Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - International Codes - BWMS Code - Code For Approval of Ballast Water Management Systems - Resolution MEPC.300(72) - 1 Introduction

1 Introduction

 General

1.1 The Code for Approval of Ballast Water Management Systems (BWMS Code) is aimed primarily at Administrations, or their designated bodies, in order to assess whether ballast water management systems (BWMS) meet the standard set out in regulation D-2 of the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments, 2004 (the Convention). In addition, the Code is intended for manufacturers and shipowners as a reference on the evaluation procedure that equipment will undergo and the requirements placed on BWMS. The Code should be applied in an objective, consistent and transparent way and its application should be evaluated periodically by the Organization.

1.2 Articles and regulations referred to in this Code are those contained in the Convention.

1.3 The Code includes general requirements concerning the design, installation, performance, testing, environmental acceptability, technical procedures for evaluation and procedures for issuance of Type Approval Certificates of BWMS and reporting to the Organization.

1.4 The Code is intended to fit within an overall framework for evaluating the performance of systems that includes the experimental shipboard evaluation of prototype systems under the provisions of regulation D-4, approval of BWMS and associated systems that comply fully with the requirements of the Convention, and port State control sampling for compliance under the provisions of article 9 of the Convention.

1.5 The approval requirements of regulation D-3 stipulate that BWMS used to comply with the Convention must be approved by the Administration, in accordance with this Code. In addition to such BWMS approval, as set forth in regulation A-2 and regulation B-3, the Convention requires that discharges of ballast water from ships must meet the regulation D-2 performance standard on an on-going basis. Approval of a system is intended to screen out BWMS that would fail to meet the standards prescribed in regulation D-2 of the Convention. Approval of a system, however, does not ensure that a given system will work on all ships or in all situations. To satisfy the Convention, a discharge must comply with the D-2 standard throughout the life of the ship.

1.6 BWMS shall be designed to not impair the health and safety of the ship or personnel, nor to present any unacceptable harm to the environment or to public health.

1.7 BWMS shall meet the standards of regulation D-2 and the conditions established in regulation D-3 of the Convention. The Code serves to evaluate the safety, environmental acceptability, practicability and biological effectiveness of the systems designed to meet these standards and conditions. The cost effectiveness of type-approved equipment will be used in determining the need for revisions of the Code.

1.8 To achieve consistency in its application, the approval procedure requires that a uniform manner of testing, analysis of samples, and evaluation of results is developed and applied. Amendments to this Code shall be duly circulated by the Secretary-General. Due consideration shall be given to the practicability of the BWMS.

Goal and purpose

1.9 The goal of the Code is to ensure uniform and proper application of the standards contained in the Convention. As such the Code should be updated as the state of knowledge and technology may require.

1.10 The purpose of the Code is to provide a uniform interpretation and application of the requirements of regulation D-3 and to:

  • .1 define test and performance requirements for the approval of BWMS;

  • .2 set out appropriate design, construction and operational parameters necessary for the approval of BWMS;

  • .3 provide direction to Administrations, equipment manufacturers and shipowners in determining the suitability of equipment to meet the requirements of the Convention and of the environmental acceptability of treated water; and

  • .4 ensure that BWMS approved by Administrations are capable of achieving the standard of regulation D-2 in land-based and shipboard evaluations and do not cause unacceptable harm to the ship, the crew, the environment or public health.

Applicability

1.11 This Code applies to the approval of BWMS in accordance with the Convention.

1.12 This Code applies to BWMS intended for installation on board all ships required to comply with regulation D-2.

1.13 BWMS approved taking into account the 2016 Guidelines (G8) adopted by resolution MEPC.279(70) shall be deemed to be in accordance with the BWMS Code.


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