Ballast Water: BIMCO seeks clearer guidance for ships facing challenging water quality
We have co-sponsored a submission to MEPC 85 making the case for revising the IMO guidance related to ballast water management for ships operating in challenging water quality conditions. Drawing on operational experience, the proposals seek clearer procedures and more consistent implementation, with the committee still to decide whether to take the revision forward. For ...
BIMCO has co-sponsored a submission to MEPC 85 advocating for clearer guidance on ballast water management for ships operating in challenging water quality conditions. The proposals aim to provide more consistent procedures and implementation, addressing the difficulties ships encounter when faced with high sediment loads or poor water clarity.
BIMCO's 2025 Ballast Water Management Survey revealed recurring water-quality challenges, increased crew workload, and uncertainty over contingency measures. The new submission, brought to MEPC 85 by BIMCO, the Republic of Korea, the Marshall Islands, and INTERTANKO, seeks to improve guidance for ships operating in these conditions by creating an integrated pre-arrival assessment flow chart and revised wording that better reflects operational needs and technical limitations.
Additionally, the proposals encourage port states to identify suitable ballast water exchange options and facilitate decontamination while minimizing delay and deviation.
Brief written by urgent.news from Hellenic Shipping News's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
