Contingency Measures for Tankers

In July 2017, the IMO issued BWM.2/Circ.62, ‘Guidance on Contingency Measures under the BWM Convention’. BWM.2/Circ.62 defines a contingency measure as, ‘…a process undertaken on a case-by-case basis after a determination that ballast water to be discharged from a ship is not compliant, in order to allow ballast water to be managed such that it does not pose any unacceptable risks to the environment, human health, property and resources.’

The IMO’s Guidelines for Ballast Water Management and the development of Ballast Water Management Plans (G4), Resolution MEPC.127(53) and amendments made via Resolutions MEPC.306(73) and MEPC.370(80), do not specifically include contingency measures. However, BWM.2/Circ.62 states that in the case of non-compliant ballast water, the ship and the Port State should consider the contingency measures contained in the Ballast Water Management Plan (BWMP) of the ship.

In more recent discussions at the IMO, a distinction has been made between the use of contingency measures when a BWMS fails due to a mechanical or technical problem and the use of contingency measures when the uptake water has challenged the BWMS and non-compliant ballast water has therefore been taken up.

The Interim guidance on the application of the Ballast Water Management (BWM) Convention to ships operating in challenging water quality conditions (Resolution MEPC.387(81)) should be considered for ships encountering operational challenges in challenging water quality conditions despite having a type-approved ballast water management system that has been properly installed, operated and maintained.

For the management of the non-compliant ballast water in both situations, the contingency measures that will need to be considered by the ship remain similar.

INTERTANKO’s Ballast Water Contingency Measures for Tankers provides guidance on practical contingency measures that may be considered in the event of a Ballast Water Management System (BWMS) failure.