Industry Updates

InTank^® BWTS

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Navigating the intricacies of
Ballast Water Treatment Legislation

Governed by both the IMO and the United States Coast Guard, BWTS need to satisfy
the requirements of legislation from IMO and U.S. Coast Guard.

International Maritime
Organization (IMO) Regulations

The IMO Ballast Water Convention – was Final in 2004 but all vessels will not be required to comply with the discharge standards in the BWC until September, 2024. What changes are coming to the IMO’s BWC?

Though discharge compliance will formally be required, it is unlikely, at least in the short term, many nations will begin to assess discharge. Though there are some notable exceptions, Australia and Germany potentially leading the way, with other European, Gulf and South American nations following.
In 2025 the Paris MOU will focus on ballast water compliance. This may bring more widespread assessment of discharges in this primarily European 28-member group of nations.
MEPC 81, held in March, 2024, discussed several BW topics. The most wide-reaching actions involved starting the BWC review process. Over the next few years, a review of the BWC will formalize and promulgate changes to the language of the BWC. These changes should bring improvements to the Convention which will benefit its efficacy and application.

United States Regulations

In the U.S. ballast water treatment and discharge is governed by the EPA’s Vessel General Permit and The US Federal Standards for Living Organisms in Ships’ Ballast Water Discharged in U.S. Waters. These are generally administered by the United States Coast Guard. There are also several individual state requirements for handling and discharging ballast.

The U.S. is currently trying to unify its legislation governing discharges from vessels. Years behind schedule is the Vessel Incidental Discharge Act (VIDA), written by the EPA. Once final the USCG will write the law to support/enforce VIDA. The proposed laws will be subject to public review, potential legal action and finally promulgation through Congress. In the meantime the existing Vessel General Permit and Federal Ballast Laws will remain in force.