QUESTION 2.6.1

Ballast Water Management Plan implementation

Oil, Chemical, LPG, LNGCargo Control Room

What is being checked

The inspector is checking whether the approved ship-specific Ballast Water Management Plan is understood and followed, the treatment or exchange method is operated within its limits and ballast operations are recorded in the current required format.

Ready onboard

0/8 complete

APPROVALThe ship-specific plan and International Ballast Water Management Certificate are current and approved.RESPONSIBILITYThe designated officer and supporting deck and engine officers understand their duties.SYSTEM LIMITSOfficers know treatment-system operating limits, alarms, bypass controls and contingency measures.RECORD BOOKEntries use the form and codes currently required by the BWM Convention and reconcile with ballast logs and automation data.EXCHANGEAny exchange plan addresses sequence, stability, stress, propeller immersion, weather, location and sediment.SAMPLINGSampling points are accessible, identified and maintained without unsafe improvisation.FAILURE RESPONSESystem failures, bypasses and contingency actions are reported, authorised and recorded as required.ELECTRONIC RECORDAny electronic Ballast Water Record Book has required approval, access control, audit trail and backup.

Practice questions

Answer aloud, then open the preparation point.

1Show the approved ballast method for the next voyage and its limiting conditions.

Use the plan, certificate and treatment-system limits to explain treatment, exchange or an approved contingency route.

2What changed in the Ballast Water Record Book form from February 2025?

Use the amended Appendix II categories and shipboard instructions; confirm the current book or electronic system implements them.

3What do you do if the BWMS fails during ballasting?

Stop or stabilise the operation where safe, follow the approved contingency measures, notify required parties and record the failure and action.

4How is an electronic record-book entry authenticated and corrected?

Follow the approved system with user identity, time-stamped audit trail, verification, backup and non-destructive correction.

5Show one operation from ballast plan through treatment data to the record book.

Reconcile tanks, times, locations, volumes, method, alarms, signatures or verification and any exception.

Where an observation may arise

PLAN OR CERTIFICATE

The approved plan or valid certificate is missing, outdated or not ship-specific.

OUTDATED RECORD

The record book does not follow the form effective from 1 February 2025.

UNRECORDED FAILURE

A BWMS alarm, bypass or contingency operation is missing or inaccurately recorded.

SYSTEM LIMIT

Officers cannot explain operating limits or continued operation outside them.

RECONCILIATION

Record-book entries conflict with tank data, logs or treatment-system history.

ELECTRONIC CONTROL

An electronic record book lacks required approval, audit trail, user control or backup.

KNOWLEDGE

The designated officer cannot explain the approved plan and responsibilities.

Master's practical note

Reconstruct one difficult ballast operation, preferably one involving an alarm, low salinity, temperature limitation or contingency measure. Normal-operation records alone do not prove that the plan works when the system is challenged.

Equipment boundary and references

Equipment boundary: Ballast requirements vary by flag, port, regional rules, system approval and implementation dates. The February and October 2025 BWM Convention amendments must be reflected where applicable.

References

OCIMF SIRE 2.0 Question Library Part 1, Version 1.0, Question 2.6.1
International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments, 2004
IMO Resolution MEPC.369(80), amended form of Ballast Water Record Book
IMO Resolution MEPC.372(80), Guidance for the use of electronic record books under the BWM Convention
IMO Resolution MEPC.383(81), electronic record-book amendments
IMO Resolution MEPC.288(71), 2017 Guidelines for Ballast Water Exchange

Last reviewed: 2026-09-09