What is Content of the Ballast Water Management Plan?

        • Weather conditions
        • Officer and crew training
        • Free surface effects and sloshing loads in slack tanks
        • Maintenance of sufficient stability according to trim and stability booklet
        • Permissible seagoing strength limits of shear force and bending moments according to trim and stability booklet
        • Minimum forward and aft draughts with respect to slamming and propeller immersion
        • Bridge visibility
        • In the BWMP information on safety measures and precautions to be observed during tank entry for control or sediment management have to be included .
  1. Weather

The BWMP has to include a list which identifies circumstances under which ballast water exchange should not be undertaken (e.g. sea state, wind speed) assisting the master in the decision whether ballast water exchange can be safely carried out en route or not. It has to be pointed out that the decision whether ballast water exchange should be conducted rests in the responsibility of the ship’s master.

Areas affected by seasonal heavy weather (typhoons, hurricanes, cyclones) or icing conditions should be avoided as far as possible and other shipping routes chosen.

About the author

Amit Sharma

Graduated from M.E.R.I. Mumbai (Mumbai University), After a brief sailing founded this website with the idea to bring the maritime education online which must be free and available for all at all times and to find basic solutions that are of extreme importance to a seafarer by our innovative ideas.