No. 1 of 2009 - RESOLUTIONS/UNIFIED INTERPRETATIONS (UIS) ADOPTED/APPROVED BY THE 58TH SESSION OF THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION COMMITTEE (MEPC 58) OF IMO
Shipping Circulars
No. 1 of 2009
02 Jan 2009
Applicable to:Ship owners, managers, operators, agents, masters, crew members and surveyors
1.Shipping Circulars Nos.15 and133 of 2006,119 of 2007 and121 of 2008 informed the Shipping Community of1resolutions adopted by MEPC 54, MEPC 55, MEPC 56 and MEPC 57 respectively. This circular informs the Shipping Community of1resolutions/Unified Interpretations (UIs) adopted/approved by MEPC 58 held from 6 to 10 Oct 08 and urges the Community to prepare for the implementation of these resolutions and UIs.
2.MEPC 58 adopted/approved a number of resolutions/UIs. Highlights of these resolutions are:
(a)Resolution MEPC.173(58)-Guidelines for Ballast Water Sampling (G2)(see Attachment A)
The objectives of these Guidelines are to provide Parties, including port State control officers, with practical and technical guidance on ballast water sampling and analysis for the purpose of determining whether the ship is in compliance with the Ballast Water Management Convention (BWM Convention) according to article19 "Inspection of Ships". These Guidelines only address general technical sampling procedures, and do not address legal requirements. These Guidelines provide general recommendations for ballast water sampling by port State control authorities. Guidance on sampling procedures for use by Parties in assessing compliance with regulations D-1 or D-2 is given in the annex to these Guidelines.
(b)Resolution MEPC.174(58)-Guidelines for approval of Ballast Water Management Systems (G8)(see Attachment B)
This resolution revokes the Guidelines adopted by resolution MEPC.125(53).These Guidelines for approval of ballast water management systems are aimed primarily at Administrations, or their designated bodies, in order to assess whether ballast water management systems meet the standard as set out in regulation D-2 of the "International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships'Ballast Water and Sediments". In addition, this resolution can be used as guidance for manufacturers and shipowners on the evaluation procedure that equipment will undergo and the requirements placed on ballast water management systems. These Guidelines should be applied in an objective, consistent and transparent way and their application will be evaluated periodically by IMO. The Guidelines include general requirements concerning design and construction, technical procedures for evaluation and the procedure for issuance of the Type Approval Certificate of the ballast water management system.
(c) Resolution MEPC.175(58)-Information Reporting on Type Approved Ballast Water Management Systems (see Attachment C)
This resolution invites IMO Member States, when approving a ballast water management system in accordance with the Guidelines for approval of ballast water management systems (G8), to report the following information to IMO:
approval date; name of the Administration; name of the BWMS;a copy of the Type Approval Certificate and any enclosures, including a copy of, or details about access to, the results from land-based and shipboard testing and the procedures used, including ecotoxicological test results from ballast water management systems approved through Guidelines (G8);a description of the Active Substance(s), if employed;and11identification of the specific MEPC report and paragraph number granting Final Approval in accordance with the Procedure for approval of ballast water management systems that make use of Active Substances (G9), adopted by resolution MEPC.169(57).
3.The BWM Convention has yet to come into force internationally.MPA is studying the Convention with a view for Singapore to consider accepting it when cost effective technology to treat ballast water is available in the market and all guidance documents needed for effective implementation of the Convention are finalized by IMO. The Shipping Community is urged to take early action to comply with the resolutions. The Unified Interpretations to regulations 12.1, 12A, and 23.7.3.2 of MARPOL Annex I (see AttachmentD ) approved by MEPC 58 are acceptable to MPA and should be followed. Shipowners are further advised to approach the nine approved classification societies to seek further guidance.
4.Any queries relating to this circular should be directed to Mr Zafrul Alam (Tel: 63756204).
KHONG SHEN PING
DIRECTOR OF MARINE
MARITIME AND PORT AUTHORITY OF SINGAPORE