Ballast Water Management
Abbreviation: BWM
The IMO framework requiring treatment or exchange of ballast water to prevent transfer of invasive marine species — implemented via the BWM Convention.
Regulatory detail & full definition
IMO Ballast Water Management is the framework for preventing invasive marine species transfer via ships' ballast water. The BWM Convention (2004, in force 2017) requires every ship to have an approved BWM Plan, a BWM Certificate, and either an approved treatment system (D-2 standard, mandatory 2017-2024 progressive) or, where a treatment system is not yet installed, mid-ocean ballast water exchange (D-1 standard). Ballast Water Record Book is retained onboard. USCG has parallel + slightly different requirements for US calls. See /glossary/ballast-water-management-convention.
Authoritative source: IMO — BWM ↗
Related
Source: BWM Convention
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