IMO new ballast water management requirements enter force Oct 28

Indication has emerged that from tomorrow, Wednesday October 28, 2020, ballast water management systems will have to meet the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Ballast Water Management Convention requirements, rather than the existing G8 and revised G8 guidelines, as well as US Coast Guard type approval regulations.

However, some experts disclosed that there is some uncertainty relating to dates and deadlines, stressing that the uncertainties include what happens to systems ordered, and possibly delivered to a repair yard, but not yet installed, perhaps because scheduled dockings have been delayed.

There is also uncertainty over whether systems approved and installed on some vessels, but not yet on sister ships, will have to comply with the new requirements.

An additional issue relates to systems already installed on ships, but not yet in operation.

There will be a spike in demand for systems between January and September 2022, according to DNV GL.

The classification society, however, estimates that about 2,000 vessels under its own class will require installations over these months, adding that altogether, as many as 10,000 new systems may be required.