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Commentary on Entries in the Ballast Water Record Book (BWRB)
15 May 2020
INTERTANKO has released a Commentary on entries in the ballast water record book (BWRB) for commonly used ballast water operations on tankers. The commentary is based on questions and feedback from INTERTANKO Members as well as feedback from several Administrations consulted by INTERTANKO and its Members in relation to the BWRB.
Click here to download the Ballast Water Record Book Commentary.
Following the entry into force of the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments, 2004 (BWM Convention) on 8 September 2017, all ocean-going vessels have been required to record ballast operations in a BWRB. Appendix II of the BWM Convention (Form of Ballast Water Record Book) specifies the ballast operations that should be recorded, as a minimum, in the BWRB.
However, based on the experience of INTERTANKO’s Members, it is evident that Appendix II of the BWM Convention is open to a variety of interpretation and ambiguity by Flag Administrations, Class Societies, Port State Control authorities and third-party auditors. This range of interpretations for making entries in the BWRB has necessitated the development of a commentary rather than a guidance document.
The document;
- provides a brief summary of the requirements of the BWM Convention as it relates to the requirements for a BWRB under Regulation B-2;
- discusses some of the ambiguity that exists within Appendix II of the BWM Convention
- considers variations of interpretation of the record-keeping entries specified in Appendix II, and;
- offers possible options for making entries in the BWRB under various ballast operation scenarios.
A sample BWRB format is also included as an Annex to the commentary.
