Ballast Water: BIMCO seeks clearer guidance for ships facing challenging water quality

We have co-sponsored a submission to MEPC 85 making the case for revising the IMO guidance related to ballast water management for ships operating in challenging water quality conditions.

Drawing on operational experience, the proposals seek clearer procedures and more consistent implementation, with the committee still to decide whether to take the revision forward.

For ships trading in ports and rivers with high sediment loads or poor water clarity, ballast water treatment can present recurring difficulties. Filters can clog, treatment capacity can fall and alarms or shutdowns can interrupt ballasting during busy cargo operations. Even a properly installed, maintained and operated ballast water management system (BWMS) can encounter conditions that limit its ability to treat the water.

These difficulties were reflected in BIMCO’s 2025 Ballast Water Management Survey, which gathered responses representing more than 3,200 ships. Operators reported recurring water-quality challenges, increased crew workload and uncertainty over the acceptance of contingency measures. The findings underline the need for guidance that crews can apply in practice and authorities can interpret consistently.

This story was originally published by Hellenic Shipping News. Read the full story at Hellenic Shipping News →