The Impact of the Revised Ballast Water Management Convention on Ship Compliance Management

Abstract

With the growing global awareness of marine ecological protection and the rapid development of the shipping industry, the issue of invasive species caused by ship ballast water has attracted increasing attention. The original Ballast Water Management Convention has become inadequate in meeting practical needs regarding ecological control standards and the compatibility of technical specifications, prompting its revision. Against this backdrop, this paper systematically examines the specific impacts of the revised convention on the validity of ship certificates, the adaptability of ballast water management plans, standards for equipment maintenance and operational procedures, the standardization of crew operational records, and the shore-based support systems of shipowners. On this basis, targeted countermeasures are proposed from four dimensions: convention interpretation, system adjustment, equipment training, and shore-based evaluation. The study aims to provide both theoretical insights and practical guidance for shipping enterprises to meet the new regulatory requirements and enhance their compliance management standards.