As previously informed in ClassNK Technical Information No.TEC-1085 and No.TEC-1086, Ballast Water Management Convention (Hereinafter referred to "the Convention") will enter into force on 8 September 2017.

All ships of 400 gross tonnage and above to which the Convention survey applies should have International Ballast Water Management Certificate for the BWM Convention (Hereinafter referred to "the Certificate") on board by the date of entry into force. Accordingly, ClassNK has launched to issue the Certificate following an initial survey subject to the authorization from Administration.

For ships not entitled to fly the flag of a Party but which operate under the authority of a Party, ClassNK carries out surveys and issues Statement of Compliance in accordance with the BWM Convention on a voluntary basis.

The Certificate is required to ships applied with only Regulation D-1 (ballast water exchange standard) as well as ships applied with Regulation D-2 (ballast water performance standard) by the date of entry into force of the convention.
Since, it is expected that a lot of survey application for the Convention will be submitted just before the date of entry into force, please apply the initial survey for issuance of the Certificate at the earliest opportunity, but not later than 8 September 2017 in cases where ships do not have the Certificate.

For approval plans, documents and initial survey, please refer to ClassNK Technical Information No.TEC-1086.

(To be continued)