Tokyo and Paris MoUs Announce Campaign on Ballast Water Management

The Сampaign will run from September 1 to November 30, 2025. Throughout this period, every ship calling at ports of the MoU Member States will undergo one targeted inspection to verify the implementation of the BWM Convention.

Primary focus areas of the CIC will include:

• Documentation issued by the Flag Administration or a recognized organization in accordance with the BWM Convention;
• The Ballast Water Management Plan;
• Crew familiarization with the BWM Convention’s requirements;
• Approval and operational status of the Ballast Water Management System on board;
• Maintenance of the Ballast Water Record Book (BWRB);
• Ballast water sediment management;
• Exemptions from the Convention.

An inspection checklist is included in the joint press release. Items marked with an asterisk indicate deficiencies that could lead to ship detention.

Please note that amendments to the BWM Convention will take effect on October 1, 2025, during the campaign period. From this date, electronic versions of the BWRB shall receive approval from the Administration or a recognized organization.

Shipowners are advised to:

• Ensure full compliance of their ships with all items listed in the BWM Convention checklist prior to the CIC and before calling at ports of Paris and Tokyo MoU Member States;
• Prior to the entry into force of the Convention’s amendments, obtain RS approval for the BWRB if maintained electronically or as part of another electronic logbook or system.

Additional information:

Founded in 1913, Russian Maritime Register of Shipping (RS) is a world-renowned classification society that operates within all spheres of the maritime industry with the goal of improving the operational and environmental safety of marine transportation. RS reviews technical documentation, surveys ships and offshore facilities under construction and in service, certifies vessels and companies for compliance with international conventions, recognizes and certifies industrial products and manufacturers, certifies quality management systems for compliance with international and national standards.

Today, RS is actively implementing the concept "More than class" by expanding its scope of services in the field of engineering and consulting, the development of technical documentation for vessels in service, marine warranty surveys and certification. In addition, RS surveys all container types, including tank containers and offshore containers, confirms compliance of packaging for dangerous goods, as well as renders services on the declaration and certification of dangerous goods and bulk cargoes.