(www.MaritimeCyprus.com) From September 1 to November 30, 2025, a crucial Port State Control Concentrated Inspection Campaign (PSC CIC) will focus on Ballast Water Management (BWM). Organized by the Paris and Tokyo MoUs, with anticipated participation from most other PSC MoUs, this campaign highlights the ongoing commitment to environmental protection and adherence to BWM regulations. An additional questionnaire, detailing specific focus areas for the CIC, is expected to be released in early August.

Recent inspections in 2024 and 2025 have revealed common deficiencies in BWM compliance. These often involve issues with the ballast water record book, such as a lack of flag approval for electronic versions, incomplete or incorrect entries, discrepancies with operational logs, or the use of outdated record books. Ballast Water Management System (BWMS) issues are also prevalent, including failures to report malfunctions to PSC, insufficient recording of issues, systems being out of order, or a lack of adherence to contingency measures. Furthermore, problems with the ballast water management plan itself, such as inconsistencies, missing information, or outdated details regarding the BWM method, port of registry, or designated person, have been observed.

To maintain continuous compliance, it is essential to incorporate these insights into routine on-board maintenance schedules and to ensure thorough and ongoing familiarization of the crew with BWM procedures. While the CIC is part of regular PSC inspections, meaning that inspections will not be solely limited to BWM, this specific topic will be a key focus during the first PSC inspection conducted by a participating MoU. Proactive preparation is vital to ensure smooth operations and avoid potential non-compliance findings.

Ballast Water Management Compliance Checklist

To help ensure your vessel remains compliant, consider the following checklist:

Ballast Water Record Book

• Flag Approval: Confirm that any electronic ballast water record books have the necessary flag approval letters readily available on board.
• Accuracy and Completeness: Verify that all entries are accurate, complete, and reflect actual ballast water operations.
• Consistency: Cross-reference entries with the BWMS log to ensure consistency between recorded data and system operations.
• Current Version: Ensure the most current version of the ballast water record book is in use.

Ballast Water Management System (BWMS)

• Malfunction Reporting: Establish procedures for immediately informing Port State Control (PSC) in the event of any BWMS malfunction.
• Issue Documentation: Ensure all BWMS issues, including malfunctions or failures, are thoroughly recorded in the ballast water record book.
• Operational Readiness: Verify that the BWMS and all its components are in full working order.
• Contingency Measures: Be prepared to follow all established contingency measures in case of BWMS malfunction or failure.

Ballast Water Management Plan

• Information Consistency: Confirm that all information within the plan regarding the BWM method, port of registry, and designated person is consistent, complete, and up-to-date.

General Compliance

• Routine Maintenance Integration: Integrate the points above into your routine on-board maintenance programs.
• Crew Familiarization: Implement ongoing training and familiarization programs for the crew on all aspects of ballast water management procedures and regulations.

Click below to download the relevant Official checklist from the Paris MoU:

Click below to download the relevant unofficial checklist:

Source: ParisMoU