Marine Operations Note: 01/2018 - Guidance on ballast water management verification surveys

31 January 2018

MARINE OPERATIONS NOTE 01/2018

(This Marine Operations Note supplements Marine Operations Note 02/2017)

Subject: Guidance on ballast water management verification surveys

Ref: (a) Maritime Regulation 2.35

1. International Convention for the Control and Management of Ship’s Ballast Water and Sediments, 2004 (BWM Convention)
2. BWM.2/Circ.7 – Interim Survey Guidelines under the HSSC

Dear Owners/Operators/Masters:

The purpose of this Marine Operations Note is to provide guidance for scheduling and conducting annual, intermediate and, where applicable, renewal surveys (surveys) for ballast water management on ships, where the International Ballast Water Management Certificate was issued by the Administration for ships implementing the exchange standard in regulation D-1 of the BWM Convention.

These surveys have not been delegated to the classification societies recognized by the Administration and the Administration will carry out the relevant surveys for Liberian flagged ships until enforcement of the performance standard in regulation D-2.

The Administrations auditors shall conduct the surveys during the annual safety inspection (ASI) and/or ISM/ISPS/MLC audit/inspection. The Administration will consider advancing or extending the date of the ASI to harmonize it with the applicable survey for ballast water management. Owners and operators should be guided accordingly when scheduling the survey.

For more information on scheduling the survey and fees associated with the survey, please contact the Technical Department at technical@liscr.com or telephone +1 703 790 3434. For scheduling the survey, including advancing or extending the date of the ASI, please contact Audit@liscr.com.

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