Shipowners face Port State Control crackdown on BWTS compliance

(Posted on 22/09/25)

BIO-UV Group is advising shipowners to ready themselves for extensive Port State Control inspections after a Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) on Ballast Water Management came into effect on 1 September 2025.

The campaign, led by the Paris and Tokyo MoUs and running until the end of November, will ensure ships are compliant with the Ballast Water Convention’s requirements through a standardised ten-point checklist applied to every vessel inspected.

The three-month drive marks the most intensive global enforcement effort yet since the D-2 discharge standard became fully mandatory in September 2024.

Inspectors will focus on whether ships carry a valid International Ballast Water Management Certificate, an approved and up-to-date BWM plan, and a type-approved treatment system that is both operational and used in accordance with that plan. They will also test crew familiarity with procedures and examine record books for completeness, while checking sediment management and any exemptions granted.

Charlène Ceresola, BWT Project Manager, BIO-UV Group, said: “The concentrated inspection campaign is now underway. The message to the industry is very clear: BWM Convention is now fully in force, and Port State Control will expect every vessel to be fully compliant with its requirements, with no excuses. Shipowners cannot wait until an inspector calls. They need to be prepared.”

Authorities have already signalled frustration at recurring failures during inspections. Non-compliance has frequently been linked not to equipment shortcomings but to poor documentation, inconsistent maintenance and a lack of crew knowledge. With the new campaign underway, BIO-UV Group said owners risk detentions, delays and reputational damage if these issues are not addressed.

Jean-Philippe Picard de Muller, BIO-SEA Sales Director, said: “BIO-SEA ballast water treatment technology is proven. But compliance failures occur when the crew does not know how to operate systems properly or when records are incomplete. That is why our service team continues to place so much emphasis on training and on giving operators the confidence to demonstrate compliance during inspections.”

The company added that PSC officers will be looking for evidence that ballast water has been managed routinely as prescribed in each vessel’s BWM plan. That means crews must be ready to explain procedures, demonstrate system operation and show that documentation reflects reality.

BIO-UV Group is advising operators to check certificates, update their plans, train crews and carry out compliance audits now, rather than waiting to be challenged at the quayside.

“Be prepared,” said Ceresola. “Review your documentation, operate your systems, train your crews and contact our service team if you need support. This PSC campaign is a reminder that compliance is not optional. It is an essential part of safe, efficient and sustainable ship operation.”