BIMCO (the Baltic and International Maritime Council) has submitted a proposal to MEPC 85 aimed at reviewing and amending the guidelines related to ballast water management for ships operating in challenging water quality conditions.
Ballast Water Management Issues in Adverse Conditions
Ships operating in ports and rivers with high sediment loads or low water clarity frequently encounter problems in managing ballast water. These issues can include filter blockages, reduced treatment capacity, and unintended stoppages in the loading process. Even a properly installed and maintained ballast water management system (BWMS) can face conditions that limit its ability to treat water.
2025 Survey and the Need for Practical Guidelines
These challenges are reflected in BIMCO's 2025 ballast water management survey, which has gathered feedback from over 3,200 ships. Operators have reported frequent water quality issues, increased crew workload, and uncertainty in implementing emergency measures. These findings emphasize the need for guidelines that crews can practically use and that authorities can interpret consistently.
However, progress at IMO has required further work. At MEPC 84, there was insufficient support for amending the interim guidelines on the application of the BWM Convention for ships operating under challenging water quality conditions. Member states and interested international organizations continued informal discussions, and this new proposal has been presented to the committee as a consolidated package of amendments.
New Proposals and Solutions
The proposals seek to clarify decision-making on ships and encompass various stages from assessing conditions prior to entry to managing treatment difficulties and recovery after bypassing. A proposed forward assessment flowchart guides crews through these stages, and the revised text better reflects the operational needs of ships and the technical limitations of the system.
Ships require practical arrangements for disinfecting affected tanks and pipes, and BIMCO's proposals call for port states to identify suitable ballast water exchange options. The proposals also emphasize the necessity of facilitating disinfection with minimal delays and deviations.
The proposals also stress the assessment of CWQ-related issues, such as alarms and automatic stoppages, in the relevant operational context and urge ships to comply with the discharge standards of the convention.
It remains to be seen whether MEPC 85 will advance the guideline amendments. These proposals aim to better support decision-making on ships and enhance predictability between ports.
