It will not apply to:
- ships not designed to carry ballast water
- ships not operating in international waters
- warships, naval auxiliary ships or other ships owned or operated by a state
- ships only on non-commercial service, or
- ships with permanent ballast water in sealed tanks.
Once the BWM Convention has entered into force all ships of 400 gross tonnes (GT ) and above will be required to have on board an approved Ballast Water Management Plan and a Ballast Water Record Book, and to be surveyed and issued with an International Ballast Water Management Certificate. For ships whose flag administration has not ratified the BWM Convention a certificate or statement of compliance can be issued.
