On the occasion of the upcoming Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) on Ballast Water Management (BWM), scheduled to run from 1 September to 30 November 2025 and initiated by the Paris and Tokyo MOUs, the Liberia Maritime Authority has issued a marine advisory. The advisory emphasizes the proper implementation of BWM requirements, including certification, system operation, recordkeeping, and crew familiarization.
The Authority underscores that ships and their equipment must always be maintained to ensure safe and compliant ballast water operations. It further recommends that shipowners and operators carry out internal inspections and conduct mock CICs before calling at ports within the Paris or Tokyo MoU regions.
Below are the 10 key CIC questions and guidance for preparation:
Liberia launches CIC to ensure compliance with issued notices
SQE Marine: Key guidance regarding CIC on Ballast Water Management
- Is a valid International Ballast Water Management Certificate (IBWMC) on board?
• Ensure the IBWMC is issued and valid under the BWM Convention, including any required
endorsements.
• Verify that any surveys (initial, intermediate, renewal) are up-to-date.
• Verify that the method of ballast water management implemented according to the BWMP is correctly recorded on the IBWMC. - Is the approved Ballast Water Management Plan (BWMP) on board?
• The BWMP must be approved by the Administration or the authorized RO.
• Ensure the approved BWMP is available onboard. - Is the BWMP up to date?
• Confirm that the plan reflects the method(s) of ballast water management implemented, and operational procedures, including contingency measures and operating in ports with challenging water quality, as applicable.
• Review againstPOL-005to ensure compliance. - Are officers and crew familiar with BWMP implementation?
Conduct training and drills to ensure crew can demonstrate knowledge of:
â–ª Method(s) of ballast water management
â–ª Sediment management
â–ª Contingency measures in case of BWMS failure and if applicable, procedures for operating in ports with challenging water quality. - Is the Ballast Water Management System (BWMS) approved?
• Verify that the BWMS is type-approved under the (G8) Guidelines or IMO BWMS Code, as applicable.
• Maintain type-approval documentation onboard for inspection. - Is the BWMS operational?
• Perform functionality tests prior to port calls.
• Ensure sensors, filters, self-monitoring system and treatment units are in working condition and operational records are available. - Was ballast water managed according to the BWMP?
• Verify that ballast water is managed in accordance with the approved BWMP. Any deviations such as exemptions, contingency measures and operating in ports with challenging water quality must be recorded in the BWRB.
• Conduct self-audits to confirm no deviations. - Is the Ballast Water Record Book (BWRB) properly filled?
• Entries must include ballast operations, exchanges, treatments, and exemptions.
• Ensure the Master reviews and signs the BWRB as required. - Is the crew managing ballast water sediments according to the BWMP?
• Follow sediment removal procedures in accordance with the approved BWMP.
• Maintain proof of sediment disposal, where applicable. - If an exemption has been granted, are the conditions implemented?
• Ensure exemption documentation is onboard and recorded in the BWRB.
• Verify compliance with any geographic or operational restrictions.
To determine if ships meet the requirements of the Convention, the following areas will be verified during inspections:
– Proper certification for BWM Convention; – Approval and update of the Ballast Water Management
Plan (BWMP).
– Crew familiarization in the implementation of the BWMP.
– Ballast Water Management System approval and its operation.
– Records of Ballast Water Record Book (BWRB).
– Ballast water sediment management; and
– Valid exemptions, if any.
Furthermore, SQE MARINE has provided a detailed guide to help ensure effective compliance with the joint Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) on Ballast Water Management (BWM).
Port State Control Officers will use a pre-defined questionnaire to assess that the BWM requirements in the respective areas are met. Should any non-conformities be found, actions by the port State may vary from recording a deficiency and instructing the Master to rectify it within a certain period of time, to detaining the ship until the serious deficiencies have been rectified.
Inspection results will be published on the websites of the Tokyo and Paris MoU. Although the CIC questionnaire has no specific questions related to the Safety Management System (SMS), it is important to note that any deficiency related to BWM can affect the on-board and company SMS system.
