Maritime Glossary
Ballast Water Management Convention
Also known as: BWM Convention, BWMC
IMO convention requiring ships to manage ballast water to prevent the spread of invasive aquatic species.
Status: ActiveVerified: Source confidence: high (96%)
Full Definition
The International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments (BWM Convention) was adopted by IMO in 2004 and entered into force in September 2017. Ships must implement a Ballast Water Management Plan and carry a Ballast Water Record Book. Standard D-2 requires treatment with an approved BWTS before discharge, limiting living organism concentrations to specified levels. Compliance timelines are tied to IOPP renewal surveys.
Domain Tags
regulationenvironment
