
From 1 February 2025, the format of the Ballast Water Record Book (BWRB) is to be updated. The upcoming amendments introduce significant updates aimed at ensuring standardized and efficient record-keeping, with standardized operation codes from A to H to categorize various ballast water activities. Comprehensive guidance on completing BWRB entries has also been approved, including examples of scenarios involving challenging water quality.
To meet the new requirements, shipowners must adopt specific measures and from 1 February 2025, all ships subject to the BWM Convention must implement the revised BWRB format, ensuring adherence to the new structure and operation codes.
New Format of Ballast Water Record Book (BWRB) (resolution MEPC.369(80))
This revised Form of BWRB proposes the list of items to be recorded in "Code" (letter A to H) and "Item" (number) format and additional details that must be recorded for different ballast water operations, similarly to the Oil record book.
Consequential amendments of the Ballast Water Management Plan (BWMP) (resolution MEPC.370(80))
BWMPs shall be appropriately updated, in particular the part “Recording Requirements” to reflect the changes introduced in record keeping and reporting process with the proper reference to BWM.2/Circ.80/rev.1.