Singapore provides guidance on BWMC compliance

MPA Singapore issued a circular, informing that the country has acceded to the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships Ballast Water and Sediments, 2004 which will come into force internationally on 8th September 2017.

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, had already provided guidance to all stakeholders, on 23rd March 2017, to assist in their preparation for the entry into force of the Convention.

With Singapore’s accession to the Convention all applicable ships of 400 GT and above (excluding floating platforms, floating storage units or FSU, and floating production storage and offloading units or FPSO2) registered with the Singapore Registry of Ships are required to carry the following on board:

• International Ballast Water Management Certificate (IBWMC);
• Ballast Water Management Plan (BWMP) approved by the Administration; and
• Ballast Water Record Book (BWRB).

Applicable Singapore-registered ships less than 400 GT are required to ensure that the relevant provisions of the Convention are complied with (e.g. BWMP approved by the Administration and BWRB are carried on board).

In addition, ROs, on behalf of the Administration of Singapore, are authorised to issue the IBWMC to all Singapore-registered ships, after satisfactorily conducting the surveys required in accordance with regulations E-1 and E-2 of the Convention. The validity date of the IBWMC shall begin from 8th September 2017.

“Statement of Compliance” (SoC) for the BWMC already issued to Singapore-registered ships are to be replaced with an IBWMC no later than 8th September 2017. No additional survey is required, provided the SoC was issued in compliance with BWMC survey requirements and there has been no modification or change of condition since the issuance of the SoC.