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E

MARINE ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION 

COMMITTEE 

61st session 

Agenda item 2 

MEPC 61/2/17

23 July 2010

 Original: ENGLISH

HARMFUL AQUATIC ORGANISMS IN BALLAST WATER 

Information for examination and analysis of the applicable requirements for vessels 

described in regulation B-3.1 

Submitted by Japan

SUMMARY 

Executive summary: This document, taking into account that the Committee, at its 

fifty-ninth session, agreed to examine the applicable requirements 

for vessels described in regulation B-3.1 and any other aspects of 

ballast water management, provides basic information on the 

estimated number of vessels to which regulation D-2 may apply. 

In particular, this document focuses on the applicable requirement 

for vessels described in regulation B-3.1. 

Strategic direction: 7.1 

High-level action: 7.1.2 

Planned output: 7.1.2.5 

Action to be taken: Paragraph 11 

Related documents: MEPC 56/2/4 and MEPC 59/24

Introduction 

1 The Committee, at its fifty-ninth session, agreed to conduct a new review of the 

status of ballast water technologies before the 2012 application date, or before the entry into 

force of the Convention, and to re-establish the Ballast Water Review Group (BWRG) during 

MEPC 61 for this purpose, as well as to examine the applicable requirements for vessels 

described in regulation B-3.1 and any other aspects of ballast water management addressed 

in the annex to the Convention in accordance with the provisions contained in regulation D-5.1 

(MEPC 59/24, paragraph 2.49). 

2 This document, taking into account the outcome of MEPC 59, provides basic 

information on the estimated number of vessels to which regulation D-2 may apply. 

In particular, this document focuses on the applicable requirements for vessels described in 

regulation B-3.1. 
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Provisions of regulation B-3.1 

3 Regulation B-3.1 of the BWM Convention requires a vessel constructed 

before 2009, as follows: 

"Regulation B-3 Ballast Water Management for vessels 

1 A vessel constructed before 2009: 

.1 with a Ballast Water Capacity of between 1,500 

and 5,000 cubic metres, inclusive, shall conduct Ballast Water 

Management that at least meets the standard described in 

regulation D-1 or regulation D-2 until 2014, after which time it shall 

at least meet the standard described in regulation D-2; 

.2 with a Ballast Water Capacity of less than 1,500 or greater 

than 5,000 cubic metres shall conduct Ballast Water Management 

that at least meets the standard described in regulation D-1 or 

regulation D-2 until 2016, after which time it shall at least meet the 

standard described in regulation D-2. 

2 A vessel to which paragraph 1 applies shall comply with paragraph 1 not 

later than the first intermediate or renewal survey, whichever occurs first, after the 

anniversary date of delivery of the vessel in the year of compliance with the 

standard applicable to the vessel." 

4 A vessel constructed before 2009 with ballast water capacity of between 1,500 

and 5,000 cubic metres and with a capacity less than 1,500 or greater 

than 5,000 cubic metres will have to install the ballast water management system (BWMS) 

not later than the first intermediate or renewal survey after the anniversary date of delivery of 

the vessel in 2015 and 2017, respectively.

Status of ballast water technologies 

5 The number of available BWMS has been increasing. According to the third 

Lloyd's Register guide to "Ballast water treatment technology1

", nine BWMSs have been 

approved by Administration in accordance with Guidelines (G8), and Japan has approved 

another two BWMSs2

. In addition, in accordance with Procedure (G9), the Committee is 

invited to consider whether to grant Final Approval to seven BWMSs at this session. Since a 

lot of manufacturers have been developing BWMS, it is envisaged that the number of 

available BWMS will further increase. It can be said that the status of ballast water 

technologies has been improving. 

Number of vessels constructed before 2009 

6 Although the number of available BWMS has increased significantly, it should be 

considered carefully whether all vessels constructed before 2009 will be able to comply with 

regulation B-3.1. 

 

1

 It is available on the Lloyd's Register website: www.lr.org/bwm. 2

 Japan approved the "Clear Ballast" BWMS developed by Hitachi Plant Technologies, Ltd. (5 March 2010) 

and the "JFE Ballast Ace" BWMS developed by JFE Engineering Corporation (26 May 2010). 
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7 Japan calculated the number of vessels to which regulation D-2 will apply 

from 2009 to 2020. The method of calculation is shown at the annex. Table 1 shows that 

the number of vessels, subject to regulations B-3.1.1 and B-3.1.2, would be in total 

approximately 34,000 vessels and the number of vessels, which are required to retrofit 

BWMS is estimated at: 500 vessels in 2015 and 2016; 11,000 vessels in 2017; 

and 9,000 vessels in 2018 and 2019. 

8 As shown in Figure 1, the number of vessels required to install BWMS is expected 

to rapidly increase in 2015 and sharply drop in 2020, because the vessels constructed 

before 2009 shall install BWMS between 2015 and 2019. 

Table 1: Estimated number of vessels which are required to retrofit BWMS 

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 

Newly constructed 

Vessels (less than 

5,000 cubic metres) 

(B-3.3) 

1,740 1,740 1,740 1,740 1,740 1,740 1,740 1,740 1,740 1,740 1,740 1,740 

Newly constructed 

vessels (greater than 

5,000 cubic metres)

(B-3.5) 

0 0 0 1,690 1,690 1,690 1,690 1,690 1,690 1,690 1,690 1,690 

Existing Vessels 

(between 1,500 and 

5,000 cubic metres) 

(B-3.1.1) 

0 0 0 0 0 0 2,500 2,500 2,500 0 0 0 

Existing Vessels 

(less than 1,500 or 

greater than 5,000 cubic 

metres) (B-3.1.2) 

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8,800 8,800 8,800 0 

Vessels constructed 

from 2009 to 2011 

(greater than 5,000 

cubic metres) (B-3.4) 

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1,690 1,690 1,690 0 

Total 1,740 1,740 1,740 3,430 3,430 3,430 5,930 5,930 16,420 13,920 13,920 3,430 

Figure 1: Estimated number of vessels required to install BWMS 
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Technical evaluation for installation of BWMS to an existing vessel

9 With regard to an individual existing vessel, a technical evaluation on the installation 

of BWMS would be necessary for each ship. In general, in the case of existing vessels, 

there are high possibilities to face difficulties for installation of BWMS, due to the complexity 

of piping arrangement, lack of extra space in engine-rooms and additional power of auxiliary 

engines that is necessary to run BWMS. In particular, the following technical issues should 

be considered depending on the characteristics of BWMSs: 

.1 in case of a system using UV, it would be necessary to enlarge generator 

capacity or to add a generator to cover the increase of electricity 

consumption; 

.2 in case of a system using filters, it would be necessary to increase the 

output pressure of pumps to compensate for the increased resistance by 

the filter, which would result in the increase of electricity consumption; and 

.3 in case of a system using Active Substances, where such substances are 

to be supplied from the outside of a vessel, the position and structure of the 

storage tanks for the Active Substances as well as the piping requirement 

would have to be carefully considered to ensure the safety on board, 

bearing in mind that the Active Substances are chemical substances. This 

may limit the possible arrangement of BWMS. 

10 It is envisaged that a lot of existing vessels, subject to regulations B-3.1.1 and 

B-3.1.2, will install BWMSs at docking period for survey. Although a necessary period for 

installation of BWMS depends on the characteristics of each vessel and the BWMS, it should 

be noted that the above-mentioned technical issues would cause the extension of the 

docking period. 

Action requested of the Committee 

11 The Committee is invited to consider the information contained in this document and 

take action as it deems appropriate. 

*** 
MEPC 61/2/17 

Annex, page 1 

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ANNEX 

ESTIMATION METHODS OF THE NUMBER OF VESSELS TO WHICH REGULATION D-2 

WILL APPLY 

Common assumption 

- Estimation on the number of vessels has been carried out for those vessels 

of 400 gross tonnage and above, taking into account that the survey 

requirements under the BWMS Convention apply to those vessels of 400 gross 

tonnage and above. 

1 Regulation B-3.3 

The number of vessels constructed in or after 2009 with a ballast water capacity of less 

than 5,000 cubic metres is estimated assuming that: 

- vessels with ballast water capacity of less than 5,000 cubic metres are those of 

less than 10,000 gross tonnage; and 

- the number of vessels to be constructed every year after 2010 will be constant, 

and the same as the number of vessels delivered in 2009 based on "Lloyd's 

Register-Fairplay 2010 Ship Database" (hereinafter referred to as "LRFP data"). 

2 Regulation B-3.5 

The number of vessels constructed in or after 2012 with a ballast water capacity 

of 5,000 cubic metres or more is estimated assuming that: 

- vessels with ballast water capacity of 5,000 cubic metres or more are those 

of 10,000 gross tonnage or more; and 

- the number of vessels to be constructed every year in or after 2012 will be 

constant, and the same as the number of vessels delivered in 2009 based on 

"LRFP data". 

3 Regulation B-3.1.1 

The number of vessels constructed before 2009 with a Ballast Water Capacity of 

between 1,500 and 5,000 cubic metres is estimated assuming that: 

- vessels with ballast water capacity of between 1,500 and 5,000 are those of 

between 3,000 and 10,000 gross tonnage; 

- regulation D-2 applies to a third of the existing vessels for three years because 

existing vessels shall comply with the regulation D-2 not later than the first 

intermediate or renewal survey, whichever occurs first; and 

- vessels are replaced at the age of 25; the number of those vessels that will be 

subject to D-2 in year 2015 could be estimated by using the number of the 

vessels which were delivered between 1990 and 2009 based on LRFP data. 
MEPC 61/2/17 

Annex, page 2 

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4 Regulation B-3.1 

The number of vessels constructed before 2009 with a ballast water capacity of less 

than 1,500 or greater than 5,000 cubic metres is estimated assuming that: 

- vessels with ballast water capacity of less than 1,500 or greater than 5,000 are 

those of less than 3,000 or greater than 10,000 gross tonnage; 

- regulation D-2 applies to a third of the existing vessels for three years because 

existing vessels shall comply with the regulation D-2 not later than the first 

intermediate or renewal survey, whichever occurs first; and 

- vessels are replaced at the age of 25; the number of those vessels that will be 

subject to D-2 in year 2017 could be estimated by using the number of the 

vessels which were delivered between 1992 and 2009 based on LRFP data. 

5 Regulation B-3.4 

The number of vessels constructed in or after 2009, but before 2012, with a ballast water 

capacity of 5,000 cubic metres or more is estimated assuming that: 

- vessels with ballast water capacity of 5,000 cubic metres or more are those 

of 10,000 gross tonnage or more based on the data of a classification society; 

and 

- the number of vessels constructed in or after 2009, but before 2012 will be 

constant, and the same as the number of vessels constructed in 2009 based on 

"LRFP data". 

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