6 Approval and Certification Procedures
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Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - International Codes - BWMS Code - Code For Approval of Ballast Water Management Systems - Resolution MEPC.300(72) - 6 Approval and Certification Procedures

6 Approval and Certification Procedures

 6.1 A BWMS which in every respect fulfils the requirements of this Code may be approved by the Administration for fitting on board ships. The approval shall take the form of a Type Approval Certificate of BWMS, specifying the main particulars of the BWMS and validated SDL. Such certificates shall be issued in accordance with Part 7 of the annex in the format shown in the appendix.

6.2 A BWMS that in every respect fulfils the requirements of this Code except that it has not been tested at all the temperatures and salinities set out in Part 2 of the annex shall only be approved by the Administration if corresponding limiting operating conditions are clearly stated on the issued Type Approval Certificate with the description "Limiting Operating Conditions". For the limiting values, the SDL shall be consulted.

6.3 A Type Approval Certificate of a BWMS shall be issued for the specific application for which the BWMS is approved, e.g. for specific ballast water capacities, flow rates, salinity or temperature regimes, or other limiting operating conditions or circumstances as appropriate.

6.4 A Type Approval Certificate of a BWMS shall be issued by the Administration based on satisfactory compliance with all the requirements described in Parts 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the annex.

6.5 The SDL shall be specified on the Type Approval Certificate in a table that identifies each water quality and operational parameter together with the validated low and/or high parameter values for which the BWMS is designed to achieve the ballast water performance standard described in regulation D-2.

6.6 An Administration may issue a Type Approval Certificate of a BWMS based on testing already carried out under supervision by another Administration. In cases where the approval of a BWMS by an Administration for installation on a ship operating under its authority is to be granted on the basis of testing carried out by another Administration, the approval may be conveyed through the issuance of the International Ballast Water Management Certificate.

6.7 A Type Approval Certificate shall only be issued to a BWMS that has been determined by the Administration to make use of an Active Substance after it has been approved by the Organization in accordance with regulation D-3.2. In addition, the Administration shall ensure that any recommendations that accompanied the Organization's approval have been taken into account before issuing the Type Approval Certificate.

6.8 The Type Approval Certificate shall be issued taking into account guidance developed by the Organization.footnote

6.9 An approved BWMS may be type approved by other Administrations for use on their ships. Should a BWMS approved by one country fail type approval in another country, then the two countries concerned shall consult one another with a view to reaching a mutually acceptable agreement.

6.10 An Administration approving a BWMS shall promptly provide a type-approval report to the Organization in accordance with part 6 of the annex. Upon receipt of a type-approval report, the Organization shall promptly make it available to the public and Member States by appropriate means.

6.11 In the case of a type approval based entirely on testing already carried out under supervision by another Administration, the type-approval report shall be prepared and kept on file and the Organization shall be informed of the approval.

6.12 In the case of a BWMS that was previously type-approved by an Administration taking into account the revised Guidelines (G8) adopted by resolution MEPC.174(58), the manufacturer, in seeking a new type approval under this Code, shall only be requested to submit to the Administration the additional test reports and documentation set out in this Code.


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