Transport Malta has issued Shipping Notice 197 to Ship-owners, Ship Operators, Managers, Masters, Owners’ Representatives and Recognised Organisations.
The Paris Memorandum of Understanding (Paris MoU) and the Tokyo Memorandum of Understanding (Tokyo MoU) have announced a joint Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) focusing on Ballast Water Management (BWM). This initiative will run from 1 September 2025 to 30 November 2025 and will apply to vessels subject to inspection within the jurisdictions of both MoUs.
The objective of the CIC is to ensure the effective and consistent enforcement of the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments, 2004 (BWM Convention). Inspections will verify compliance with the Convention’s mandatory requirements, including:
- Valid BWM Convention certification;
- Approval and currency of the vessel’s Ballast Water Management Plan (BWMP);
- Crew familiarity with BWMP implementation;
- Approval and operational readiness of the Ballast Water Management System;
- Proper maintenance of the Ballast Water Record Book (BWRB);
- Management of ballast water sediments; and
- Any valid exemptions granted.
Port State Control Officers will conduct inspections using a standardised questionnaire. Where deficiencies are identified, corrective actions may range from recording the issue with a requirement to rectify within a specified timeframe, to detaining the vessel until serious non-compliances are addressed. Inspection outcomes will be made publicly available on the Paris MoU and Tokyo MoU websites.
While the CIC does not include direct questions on a vessel’s Safety Management System (SMS), shipowners and operators should note that any deficiencies in BWM compliance may have implications for both onboard and company-wide SMS procedures.
Shipowners, operators, and crews are strongly advised to review their documentation, systems, and procedures in advance to ensure readiness and avoid potential operational disruptions during the campaign.
Please review the full shipping notice for details.
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