Marine Operations Note: 05/2010 - Norwegian Ballast Water and Sediments Management Plan Requirements

August 2010 Marine Operations Note: 05/2010

Subject: Norwegian Ballast Water and Sediments Management Plan Requirements

Ref: (a) Norwegian Ministry of the Environment Regulation of 7 July 2009 No.992

concerning the prevention of transfer of alien organisms via ballast water and sediments from ships (the Ballast Water Regulation)

1. Norwegian Maritime Directorate circular RSV09-2010
2. Resolution MEPC.127(53) - Guidelines for Ballast Water Management and Development of Ballast Water Management Plans (G4)
3. Resolution MEPC.124(53) - Guidelines for Ballast Water Exchange (G6)

To: Shipowners/Operators

The Administration is offering Ballast Water and Sediments Management Plan approval in order to assist owners/operators of Liberian flag ships compliance with Norway’s new Ballast Water Management Regulation, reference (a). The new Regulation entered into force on 01 July 2010.

The regulation applies to all ships constructed to carry ballast water and sailing in Norwegian territorial waters, including the territorial waters surrounding Svalbard and Jan Mayen, and in the Norwegian economic zone. Such ships are required to:

1. manage ballast water by employing exchange, treatment or delivery to reception facilities;
2. have an approved Ballast Water and Sediments Management Plan, and 3) maintain a Ballast Water Record Book.

Submersible vessels and mobile offshore units under transport are also regarded as ships.

This Regulation does not apply to:

1. Ships trading exclusively in Norwegian territorial waters and in the Norwegian economic zone;
2. Ships with permanent ballast water in sealed tanks; and
3. Craft of less than 50 metres in length overall and with maximum ballast water capacity of 8 cubic metres, which is used solely for recreation, competition or craft used primarily for search and rescue. However, such crafts shall exchange ballast water outside port waters and as far from the coast as practically possible.

Norway’s Ballast Water and Sediment Management Plan requirements are modeled after the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ship’s Ballast Water and Sediments,

1

adopted in February 2004, and the associated Guidelines in references (c) and (d). Use of the guidelines may also make future approvals easier, should other governments implement their own national requirements, and when the international convention becomes mandatory.

Additional guidance:

1. Ballast Water and Sediment Management Plans may be approved by the Administration, or one of its Recognized Organizations (RO).

1. Owners and operators are encouraged to prepare the Ballast Water and Sediment Management Plan using the format contained in reference (c).

1. The plan is intended to be a simple document. Inclusion of extensive background information on the ship, its structure, etc. should be avoided, as this is generally available elsewhere. If such information is relevant, it should be kept in annexes, or an existing document or manual and reference should be made to the location of the information.

1. The plan shall be specific to each ship, and shall provide a detailed description of the actions to be taken and the routines to be utilized to implement the Ballast Water and Sediments Management requirements as set forth in the Ballast Water Regulation in reference (a) above.

1. The plan shall include an identification of the officers on board who are in charge of ensuring that the plan is properly implemented.

1. The plan shall be written in the working language of the ship. If the language used is not English, French or Spanish, a translation into English shall be included. The copy to be submitted to the Administration for approval must be in English.

1. The Norwegian Ballast Water Regulation may be accessed on the Norwegian Maritime Directorate’s website http://www.sjofartsdir.no/en/News_-_press_releases/New-BallastWater-Management-Regulation/.

1. The plan shall be mailed to:

LISCR, LLC

Attn: Safety and Security Department

8619 Westwood Centre Drive, Suite 300

Vienna, Virginia 22182, USA

Email: safety@liscr.com Tel: +1 703 790 3434

1. Ballast Water Management Plans, which were previously approved by the Administration as meeting Brazil’s requirement (see Marine Operations Note 01–2006) may be reissued to indicate approval for compliance with Norway’s new Ballast Water Management Regulation. To receive a new Ballast Water Management Plan approval letter, send a copy of the vessel’s existing Approval Letter issued by the Administration and a letter confirming that the Norwegian specific requirements, including the information contained in the Annexes to reference (a), are incorporated as an appendix or attachment to the plan. The fee for the reissue of the Approval Letter will be $150.

Please contact Timothy M. Keegan at +1 703 251 2409 or Cedric D’Souza +1 703 251 2469 or email: safety@liscr.com, if there are any questions regarding the above.

* * * * * *

2