5.3 Applications for Other Methods should contain
a fully developed independently validated approach for assessing the
level of protection provided by that Other Method against the transfer
of harmful aquatic organisms and pathogens and its equivalence to
the requirements in regulations B-3.1 to
B-3.5 of the BWM Convention and the additional requirements
outlined in this Procedure, as appropriate. A possible starting point
for such an approach could be a comparison of the level of protection
ensured by ballast water management in compliance with regulations B-3.1 to B-3.5 and the level
of protection ensured by the Other Method if used on comparable ships.
5.4 Other Methods should demonstrate by risk assessment,
independently validated physical and biological modelling, operational
testing of this modelling and full-scale operational testing, where
applicable, that the Other Method is capable of meeting at all times
a level of protection that is at least equivalent to the level of
protection with respect to the prevention of the transfer of harmful
aquatic organisms and pathogens via discharge of ballast water compared
to existing requirements. The risk assessment should be at least to
the same level of rigour as stipulated in Guidelines (G7).
5.5 Applications for Other Methods should specify
the benchmark against which the performance of any systems based on
that particular Other Method can be measured. The benchmark would:
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.1 enable a transparent comparison by the Committee
of the level of protection provided by the Other Method with that
provided by the requirements in regulations
B-3.1 to B-3.5 of the BWM Convention;
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.2 be measurable and able to be evaluated for
approval (similar to the requirements of the Convention, i.e. D-1 being a process evaluation, while D-2 is a measurable performance standard);
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.3 be verifiable by port and flag States through
sampling, records or other processes (to be properly defined, listed
and technically explained/clarified, in the pertinent application,
in terms of proposed verifications for flag State or port State control
inspections to be carried out on board);
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.4 need to be contained in the application, agreed
by the Committee and then be used for consideration of approval through
compliance testing by Port State Control;
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.5 provide an assurance that systems based on
an Other Method are providing the same level of protection for the
environment as the Other Method that has received the approval in
principle from the Committee; and
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.6 be based on a recognized international standard,
where appropriate, so long as they can be proved as equivalent to
the existing requirements.
5.6 An Other Method may provide the same level
of protection for the environment, human health, property or resources
where: