【Regulation】 Amendment of Ballast Water Recod Book Format

Below two documents about ballast water record book (BWRB) are adopted at MEPC80 in July 2023. 

MEPC.369(80)：Amendments to Appendix II of the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments, 2004

BWM.2/Circ.80：Guidance on Ballast Water Record-keeping and Reporting

MEPC.369(80) is an amendment to change the format of the Ballast Water Record Book, which will take effect on February 1, 2025. The amendment requires that the 'Code' be entered in alphabetical characters at the same time, whereas previously the items to be recorded were entered only in numerical characters.

BWM.2/Circ.80 provides new guidelines on how to fill out and report the Ballast Water Record Book. At this time, this is a guideline and not mandatory. However, in MEPC.369(80) there is a statement that 'The Ballast Water Record Book entries should be completed taking into account any guidelines to be developed by the Organization.' Therefore, after February 2025, when MEPC.369(80) goes into effect, entries must be completed in accordance with the guidelines.

Panama Maritime Authority revised its Circular MMC-345 ’Ballast Water Management Convention 2004, Panama Policy.’ in Sept. 2023. In this circular, the administration  encourages crew to record BWRB in accordance with Appendix which is prepared to facilitate the record-keeping, using the current form of Appendix II of the Convention (recording items by numbers). 

Please refer below links

IMO BWM Convention and Guidelines

IMO MEPC80

Panama MMC-345 Ballast Water Management Convention 2004, Panama Policy.

Class NK technical information TEC-1309