Danish Owners Release Ballast Water Convention Guide

The Little Blue Book on Ballast Water. Danish Shipping has launched a new guide on the implementation of the Ballast Water Management Convention, which will enter into force on September 8.

All new ships will have to be equipped with a ballast water treatment system, while existing ships will need to have systems installed from September 8, 2019 to September 8, 2024.

But the new rules are complex, and there are a number of conditions that officers have to cope with in order to avoid problems in relation with for example port state inspections. Today, existing ships must comply with the convention, and this means, for example, that the ballast water must be changed on the journey if a treatment system is not installed. The ships must also be equipped with a certificate and approved ship-specific ballast water management manual, and the officers must be familiar with different local requirements, such as the American special rules.

Therefore, Danish Shipping has prepared a guide - The Little Blue Book on Ballast Water – which should make it easier and more manageable to comply with the rules of the convention. The guide is intended to be on board the ships, so the crew can seek information when needed.