Regulation B-4 - Ballast Water Exchange
Clasification Society 2024 - Version 9.40
Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - International Conventions - BWM - International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments, 2004 - Annex - Regulations for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments - Section B - Management and Control Requirements for Ships - Regulation B-4 - Ballast Water Exchange

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.


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