Electronic Ballast Water Record Books

C25041 | 30 July 2025

Notice to: Owners / Operators / Surveyors / Auditors 

This Circular is issued to advise that IMO Resolution MEPC.383(81) – Amendments to the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments, 2004, applies from 01 October 2025.

The Resolution includes amendments to Regulations A-1 and B-2 of the BWM Convention on the use of electronic Ballast Water Record Books (BWRBs)

Points to note :

• The use of an electronic BWRB is voluntary.
• Where a BWRB is used, a ship-specific Declaration must be carried onboard confirming that the installation of the electronic BWRB meets the requirements of the IMO guidelines.
• The Declaration is issued by the Flag Administration, Dromon Bureau of Shipping does not issue these Declarations.

The absence of such a Declaration means an electronic BWRB may not be accepted by Port State Control as fulfilling the record-keeping requirements of the Convention.

Act now

Owners / Operators / Surveyors / Auditors are to ensure that where electronic BWRBs are used, a Declaration issued by the Flag State is obtained in a timely manner and retained onboard.