Regarding the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ship's Ballast Water and Sediments, 2004 (Hereinafter referred to "the BWM Convention"), Panama Maritime Authority published Merchant Marine Circular MMC-345.
A summary of MMC-345 is as below.

1.　Examination of Ballast Water Management Plan (BWMP)
(1)　BWMP should take into account IMO Resolution MEPC.127(53) (*1) and be approved by Panama Maritime Authority. (BWM Plans are required to be approved by the Panama Maritime Authority, even if the BWM Plans were approved by Recognized Organizations.)
Application for approval will be accepted from 15 March 2017 and Statement of Fact, valid for three (3) months, will be issued upon receipt of BWMP.
http://certificates.amp.gob.pa/certificates
(2)　However, BWMP, previously approved by Recognized Organizations in accordance with IMO Resolution A.868(20) (*2) before 15 March 2017, will remain valid and re-approval by Panama Maritime Authority is not required until the BWMP needs to be revised due to installations of Ballast Water Management Systems or modifications.
(3)　As to whether BWMP has been approved in accordance with IMO Resolution MEPC.127(53) or IMO Resolution A.868(20), please confirm the approved cover page of BWMP, etc. If you have any concerns, please contact our Machinery Department (mcd@classnk.or.jp).
(*1)　Applied to the ships engaged in accordance with Regulation D-1 only, both Regulation D-1 and Regulation D-2 or Regulation D-2 only
(*2)　Applied to the ships engaged in accordance with Regulation D-1
2.　Statement of Compliance and Interim Certificate
(1)　ClassNK carries out surveys and issues Statements of Compliance in accordance with the BWM Convention on a voluntary basis.
(2)　An initial survey will be carried out and an Interim Certificate will be issued to a ship which Statement of Compliance has not been issued as we have obtained authorization related to the issuance of the Interim Certificate by Panama Maritime Authority. In cases where BWMP has already been approved by the Panama Maritime Authority, please keep BWMP with "BWMP Statement of Fact" issued by the Panama Maritime Authority on board.
As for the implementation of initial survey, please refer to ClassNK Technical Information No.TEC-1086.

(To be continued)