Port State Control CIC 2025 on Ballast Water Management

Notice to: Ship Owners / Managers / Operators / Surveyors / Auditors / DPAs / Masters 

C25042 | 04 August 2025

This circular is issued to advise that the Paris and Tokyo MoUs have agreed to run a joint Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) on the topic of Ballast Water Management, running from 01 September to 30 November.

A ship will be subject to only one inspection under this CIC during the period of the campaign.

The following areas will be verified during inspections:

• Proper certification for BWM Convention;
• Approval and update of the Ballast Water Management Plan (BWMP);
• Crew familiarisation in the implementation of the BWMP;
• Ballast Water Management System approval and its operation;
• Records of Ballast Water Record Book (BWRB);
• Ballast water sediment management; and
• Valid exemptions, if any.

Port State Control Officers will use a pre-defined questionnaire to assess that the BWM requirements in the respective areas are met.

Dromon Bureau of Shipping have prepared a checklist which can be downloaded here, to assist Owners/Managers in ensuring that BWM documentation is in good order and available for PSC inspection, systems are operational, and crew well familiarised with their duties. Dromon’s Surveyors will also use the checklist when attending onboard.

If any non-conformities are found, actions by the Port State may include:

• recording a deficiency and instructing the Master to rectify it within a certain time,
• detaining the ship until the serious deficiencies have been rectified.

Inspection results will be published on the websites of the Tokyo and Paris MoU.

Act now

Ship Owners, Managers, Operators, Surveyors, Auditors, DPAs, and vessel Masters should ensure that ships are well-prepared for the Concentrated Inspection Campaign and that all items on the checklist are in good order.