SAFETY4SEA Flash Mail 2015-44

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SAFETY4SEA Fos ter i ng Saf et y Exce l l ence & Sus ta i nab l e Sh i pp i ng
S A F E T Y 4 S E A We e k l y F l a s h M a i l 2 0 1 5 - 4 4
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A.NEWS
1/ USCG’s Ballast Water Management program
USCG has issued a Marine Safety Information Bulletin (MSIB 13-15) to provide an update on aspects of the
Coast Guard’s Ballast Water Management (BWM) program. It includes guidance to comply with Title 33,
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 151, Subparts C and D. It also announces a change to the terms of
extended compliance dates the Coast Guard will issue to vessels.
Drydocking Dates
The “original compliance date” for a vessel is determined by the Implementation Schedule in either Table
151.1512(b) for Subpart C or 151.2035(b) for Subpart D. New vessels (those constructed on or after
December 1, 2013) must use an approved BWM method by their delivery date. Existing vessels (those
constructed before December 1, 2013) must use an approved BWM method by their original compliance
date. An existing vessel’s original compliance date depends upon the vessel’s ballast water capacity and is
set as the first scheduled drydocking date after a date specified in either Table 151.1512(b) or 151.2035(b),
as applicable. BWM regulations do not define “first scheduled drydocking”. The following guidance is
applicable to the first scheduled drydocking and other drydocking dates for existing vessels:
- In all cases, a vessel’s “first scheduled drydocking” date for the purposes of compliance with the BWM
implementation schedule is the date the vessel enters a drydock. For example, if a vessel enters drydock on
or before December 31, 2015 and does not leave drydock until after January 1, 2016, the drydock is not
considered the “first scheduled drydocking after January 1, 2016” for purposes of compliance;
- A drydocking begun after the date specified in either Table 151.1512(b) or 151.2035(b), as applicable,
which is necessary for emergency repairs is not considered the first scheduled drydocking. However, if this
drydocking satisfies the Administration for endorsing the Certificate of Inspection, passenger ship safety
certificate, cargo ship safety certificate, or cargo ship safety construction certificate as the required survey of
the bottom of the ship, this drydocking date is considered the first scheduled drydocking;
- A scheduled drydocking begun after the date specified in either Table 151.1512(b) or 151.2035(b), as
applicable, to satisfy a statutory bottom survey requirement or to accomplish planned work (such as a
drydocking to install exhaust gas cleaning equipment or to install a new bottom coating system), as opposed
to emergency work, is considered the “first scheduled drydocking”.
An underwater inspection in lieu of drydocking (UWILD) is not considered the “first scheduled drydocking”;
instead:
- For vessels that undergo one UWILD and one drydocking for statutory purposes every five years, the first
scheduled drydocking is the first drydocking conducted for statutory purposes after the date specified in
either Table 151.1512(b) or 151.2035(b), as applicable;
- For vessels that do not routinely undergo drydockings, their original compliance date is 1 January 2014 or 1
January 2016, depending on the vessel’s ballast water capacity.
The Coast Guard recommends vessel owners maintain, in contracts, records, or logbooks, documentation of
the date the vessel entered/left the drydock and the reason why the vessel was drydocked, and be prepared
to present the information to Coast Guard compliance personnel if there are any questions concerning the
vessel’s compliance.
Extended Compliance Date
A vessel that discharges ballast water in waters of the U.S. after its original compliance date must comply
with the requirements under 33 CFR 151.1512 or 151.2035 for approved BWM methods. However, the
master, owner, operator, agent, or person in charge of a vessel may apply to the Coast Guard for an
extended compliance date if they can document that, despite all efforts, compliance with the requirement
under 33 CFR 151.1510 or 151.2025 is not possible. Coast Guard is revising the terms of extended
compliance dates, and will issue a revised CG-OES Policy Letter 13-01. A vessel’s extended compliance
date will now be the “next scheduled drydocking” after the vessel’s original compliance date. Existing
extension letters will not be re-issued, but this change in terms will be made when a vessel applies for a
supplemental extension. [More… ]