For the key focus on PSC Inspection of BWM in Ports of China, more awareness on ballast water record book should be raised by ship owners and masters. During Xinde Marine News Green ShipTech Seminar held on last week at Shanghai, the Ship Safety Inspection Officer from Pudong MSA shared the information here below:
a). Whether the ship carries a valid International Ballast Water Management Certificate , Ballast water management plan approved by the flag state and ballast water record book meeting the requirements of the Ballast Water Management Convention;
b). The ballast water record book shall be kept on board for at least two years in an approved format and after the last record. The officer in charge of the operation shall sign after each record in the ballast water record book, and the master shall sign the record after completing each page;
c). Visual inspection of the overall condition of the ships, the equipment and arrangement detailed in the International Ballast Water Management Certificate and the Ballast Water Management Plan and if necessary, ballast pipe and system should also be inspected;
d). For ships that need to meet the ballast water exchange standards, verify that whether the ballast water exchange in the ballast water record book is in accordance with the requirements, or that the ship takes measures to meet the ballast water performance standards specified in D-2;
e). Verify whether there’s an officer be responsible for the Ballast Water Management; verify that the designated officer and crew are familiar with the necessary ballast water management procedures; and if an exception occurs the master shall provide evidence of the relevant exception.
f). Verify the performance of the ballast water management system.
Since the entry into force of the Ballast Water Convention in China, many deficiencies concerning ballast water have been found in actual inspections, the most common of which is the problem of irregular recording of ballast water records, such as wrong code, wrong record format, incomplete or lack of relevant reasons records, etc.,which should be paid attention by ship owners and masters.
The opinions expressed herein are the author's and not necessarily those of The Xinde Marine News.
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