Uptake of ballast water
Clasification Society 2024 - Version 9.40
Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - Resolutions - Marine Environment Protection Committee - Resolution MEPC.123(53) - Guidelines for Ballast Water Management Equivalent Compliance (G3) - (Adopted on 22 July 2005) - Annex - Guidelines for Ballast Water Management Equivalent Compliance (G3) - Precautionary practices to minimize the uptake or transfer of harmful aquatic organisms and pathogens - Uptake of ballast water

Uptake of ballast water

  6 Wherever possible, ballast water should be taken up outside of port waters and as far from the coast as practicable. In addition, consideration should be given to the use of dockside water supplies (e.g. water not taken directly from the harbour; such as fresh water, potable water, etc.) as the source for ballast water.

  7 When loading ballast water, every effort should be made to avoid the uptake of potentially harmful aquatic organisms, pathogens and sediments that may contain such organisms. The uptake of ballast water should be minimized or, where practicable, avoided in areas and situations such as:

  • .1 in areas identified by the port State in connection with warnings provided by ports concerning ballast uptake and any other port contingency arrangements in the event of emergency situations;

  • .2 in darkness when organisms may rise up in the water column;

  • .3 in very shallow water;

  • .4 where propellers may stir up sediment;

  • .5 areas with current large phytoplankton blooms (algal blooms, such as red tides);

  • .6 nearby sewage outfalls;

  • .7 where a tidal stream is known to be more turbid;

  • .8 where tidal flushing is known to be poor; or

  • .9 in areas close to aquaculture.

  8 If it is necessary to take on and discharge ballast water in the same location, care should be taken to avoid unnecessary discharge of ballast water that has been taken up in another location.

Parent topic: Precautionary practices to minimize the uptake or transfer of harmful aquatic organisms and pathogens
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