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• Bahamas Maritime Authority, vide Information Bulletin No. 165 (copy attached) has informed that Bahamas has ratified the Ballast Water Management Convention on 08 June 2017 and same will enter into force on 08 September 2017.
• Upon entry into force of the Convention, a treatment system (BWMS) will require to be fitted on ships. The implementation deadline for BWMS, according to IMO Resolution A.1088 (28) is as follows.

• Regulation D-1 (ballast water exchange) will remain valid and acceptable until a ship is required to comply with regulation D-2.

• Ballast Water Management System (BWMS) used for compliance with regulation D-2 must be type approved by a Bahamas Recognised Organisation, in accordance with the IMO G8 or G9 Guidelines.

• Ballast Water Management System (BWMS) that have been approved by another Administration, in accordance with the G8 or G9 Guidelines, will be considered for acceptance by the BMA on a case-by-case basis.

• Bahamian flagged vessels will require to be issued with International Ballast Water Management Certificate on completion of the first IOPP survey on or after 9 June 2017. In such cases, the certificates will be issued along with annotation of the certificate to state that validity begins from the entry into force date (8 September 2017).

• Existing Statement of Compliance issued to the vessels is required to be replaced by International Ballast Water Management Certificate at the first IOPP survey (i.e. Annual, Intermediate, Renewal) on or after 9 June 2017, with the expiry date being no later than that on the existing Statement of Compliance. However, as stated above, the certificate is to be issued along with annotation of the certificate to state that validity begins from the entry into force date (8 September 2017).

• BMA has allowed 15 months (until 8 September 2018) window period for replacement of Statement of Compliance to IBWM Certificate.

• Ballast Water Management Plan approved as per A.868 (20) will remains valid until the plan requires revision due to installation of a Ballast Water Management System when it must be approved as per the requirements of A.127(53).

• The IBWM Convention applies to FPSOs, FSUs and Offshore platforms. Whilst Regulation E-1 (Surveys) is not applicable to these types of unit, to ensure that the applicable provisions of the Convention are complied with, as required by Regulation E-1.2, the Bahamas Administration requires these units to be surveyed and issued with a Statement of Compliance.

• BMA has no objection for de-harmonization of the IOPP renewal survey from the remaining statutory surveys to defer the compliance with regulation D-2.

• Where IOPP renewal survey is completed early and de-harmonized with the remaining renewal surveys, the IOPP renewal should be re-harmonized with remaining renewal surveys at the earliest possible date.

• Ship owners and managers intending to pre-pone the IOPP renewal survey as above may forward their request to IRS to inform to BMA.

• Ship Owner / managers are advised to be guided by above and to keep a copy of Bulletin No.165 in ship’s certificate file until IBWM Certificate is issued.

Enclosure:

1. Bahamas Information Bulletin No. 165

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