A mandatory log recording all ballast water uptake, treatment, exchange, and discharge operations under the BWM Convention.
In practice
For a deck officer managing ballast operations, the BWRB documents compliance with the BWM Convention's performance standard — either the D-1 sequential exchange standard or the D-2 treatment standard, depending on the vessel's compliance schedule. Ballast water treatment systems (BWTS) must be type-approved and must achieve the D-2 biological standard, eliminating or reducing viable aquatic organisms to prevent the establishment of invasive species in the receiving port.
Regulatory detail & full definition
The Ballast Water Record Book is a mandatory document under the Ballast Water Management Convention (BWM Convention, adopted by IMO in 2004 and entering into force in 2017). It records all ballast water uptake, ballast water treatment operations, discharge, and any accidental or exceptional discharge of ballast water. Entries must include the date, position, volume, and where applicable the treatment method used. The master must sign each completed page.
For a deck officer managing ballast operations, the BWRB documents compliance with the BWM Convention's performance standard — either the D-1 sequential exchange standard or the D-2 treatment standard, depending on the vessel's compliance schedule. Ballast water treatment systems (BWTS) must be type-approved and must achieve the D-2 biological standard, eliminating or reducing viable aquatic organisms to prevent the establishment of invasive species in the receiving port.
Port state control inspectors check the BWRB for completeness, verify that exchange or treatment records are consistent with the voyage track, and may take water samples to test for compliance with the D-2 standard. The Convention's survey and certification requirements mean that vessels must hold a valid International Ballast Water Management Certificate. Officers on vessels transitioning from exchange to treatment compliance must understand when and how the treatment system must be operated during each ballast operation.