3 Definitions
Clasification Society 2024 - Version 9.40
Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - Resolutions - Marine Environment Protection Committee - Resolution MEPC.174(58) – Guidelines for Approval of Ballast Water Management Systems (G8) – (Adopted on 10 October 2008) - Annex – Guidelines for Approval of Ballast Water Management Systems (G8) - 3 Definitions

3 Definitions

 For the purpose of these Guidelines:

  3.1 Active Substance means a substance or organism, including a virus or a fungus that has a general or specific action on or against harmful aquatic organisms and pathogens.

  3.2 Ballast Water Management System (BWMS) means any system which processes ballast water such that it meets or exceeds the ballast water performance standard in regulation D-2. The BWMS includes ballast water treatment equipment, all associated control equipment, monitoring equipment and sampling facilities.

  3.3 The Ballast Water Management Plan is the document referred to in regulation B-1 of the Convention describing the ballast water management process and procedures implemented on board individual ships.

  3.4 Ballast Water Treatment Equipment means equipment which mechanically, physically, chemically, or biologically processes, either singularly or in combination, to remove, render harmless, or avoid the uptake or discharge of harmful aquatic organisms and pathogens within ballast water and sediments. Ballast water treatment equipment may operate at the uptake or discharge of ballast water, during the voyage, or at a combination of these events.

  3.5 Control Equipment refers to the installed equipment required to operate and control the ballast water treatment equipment.

  3.6 The Convention means the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments.

  3.7 Monitoring Equipment refers to the equipment installed for the assessment of the effective operation of the ballast water treatment equipment.

  3.8 Sampling Facilities refers to the means provided for sampling treated or untreated ballast water as needed in these Guidelines and in the “Guidelines for ballast water sampling (G2)” developed by the Organization.

  3.9 Shipboard Testing is a full-scale test of a complete BWMS carried out on board a ship according to Part 2 of the annex to these Guidelines, to confirm that the system meets the standards set by regulation D-2 of the Convention.

  3.10 Treatment Rated Capacity (TRC) is the maximum continuous capacity expressed in cubic metres per hour for which the BWMS is type approved. It states the amount of ballast water that can be treated per unit time by the BWMS to meet the standard in regulation D-2 of the Convention.

  3.11 Land-based Testing is a test of the BWMS carried out in a laboratory, equipment factory or pilot plant including a moored test barge or test ship, according to Parts 2 and 3 of the annex to these Guidelines, to confirm that the BWMS meets the standards set by regulation D-2 of the Convention.

  3.12 Viable Organisms are organisms and any life stages thereof that are living.


Copyright 2022 Clasifications Register Group Limited, International Maritime Organization, International Labour Organization or Maritime and Coastguard Agency. All rights reserved. Clasifications Register Group Limited, its affiliates and subsidiaries and their respective officers, employees or agents are, individually and collectively, referred to in this clause as 'Clasifications Register'. Clasifications Register assumes no responsibility and shall not be liable to any person for any loss, damage or expense caused by reliance on the information or advice in this document or howsoever provided, unless that person has signed a contract with the relevant Clasifications Register entity for the provision of this information or advice and in that case any responsibility or liability is exclusively on the terms and conditions set out in that contract.