BWM.2_Circ.43_Rev.2_2024_Guidance_for_Administrations_on_the_type_appr
BWM.2_Circ.43_Rev.2_2024_Guidance_for_Administrations_on_the_type_appr
4 ALBERT EMBANKMENT
LONDON SE1 7SR
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7735 7611 Fax: +44 (0)20 7587 3210
BWM.2/Circ.43/Rev.2
24 October 2024
***
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ANNEX
1 PURPOSE
1.1 This document provides guidance for Administrations on the procedure for evaluating
an application for type approval of a ballast water management system (BWMS), in
accordance with the Code for Approval of Ballast Water Management Systems (BWMS
Code)1, or evaluating modifications to an existing type approved BWMS that are proposed by
the manufacturer. The Guidance can act as an aide-memoire for Administrations and is not
intended, in any way, to interfere with the authority of an Administration.
1.4 There is no requirement for existing BWMS installations with a valid Type Approval
Certificate to be retroactively upgraded should a BWMS with an existing type approval obtain
approval of modifications.
1.5 A BWMS originally type approved and installed taking into account Guidelines (G8)
(i.e. resolutions MEPC.125(53), MEPC.174(58) and MEPC.279(70)), and before entry into
effect of the BWMS Code, can undergo modifications to minor components following this
guidance and does not require a shipowner or BWMS manufacturer to retroactively apply
BWMS Code requirements to that installation.
1.6 This document provides guidance on interpretation of the BWMS Code and does not
replace or supersede the requirements of the Code.
1
References to the BWMS Code are understood to refer to any revisions of the Code that may be in effect
and applicable at the time of implementation of this Guidance by an Administration.
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2 KEY INSTRUMENTS
.2 Procedure for approval of ballast water management systems that make use
of Active Substances (G9) (resolution MEPC.169(57));
3.1 To facilitate an initial or new type approval of a BWMS, the Administration should
ensure that the manufacturers, or their agents have, at a minimum:
.1 been informed if the Administration delegates to, or utilizes the services of,
a third-party quality assurance organization (e.g. recognized organization,
nominated body, classification society, surveyors, etc.) in some or all of the
type approval processes;
.3 a fully working system built that can be used in the type approval process.
It should be noted that the construction procedures and materials for the unit
tested need to be the same as for the follow-on production units;
.4 undertaken preliminary testing to ensure that their BWMS is viable, will meet
the D-2 standard of the BWM Convention, will work on board a ship and has
been determined not to pose any unacceptable risk to the environment;
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.5 Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) for the preliminary test; and
.1 toxicity data;
.10 arranged for a trained person from the land-based testing facility to operate
the equipment being type approved and ensure that for the shipboard test
the ship's crew is familiar with the equipment and sufficiently trained to
operate the equipment;
.11 consulted with the classification society that the ship undertaking the
shipboard testing is being registered, where necessary, and obtained
approval for installation of the BWMS;
.13 prepared a type approval application in compliance with the BWMS Code,
annex, part 1, which includes at least the following:
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.5 technical manual;
.10 a list of necessary measures for the safe operation of the BWMS;
.14 provided the following, when submitting the type approval application:
.16 made all shipboard test results and documents, including all unsuccessful,
failed and invalid tests, as well as detailed information of the test set up and
flow rate at each test cycle, available to the Administration.
3.2 In accordance with paragraphs 4.17 to 4.22 of the Code for Approval of Ballast Water
Management Systems (BWMS Code), Administrations should ensure that type-approved
BWMS have a suitable self-monitoring system that will monitor and record sufficient data to
verify correct operation of the system. Administrations should make every effort to ensure that
newly installed BWMS that have already been granted type approval meet this
recommendation within one year following approval of this Guidance. Administrations should
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.2 been informed if the Administration delegates to, or utilizes the services of,
a third-party quality assurance organization (e.g. recognized organization,
nominated body, classification society, surveyors, etc.) in some or all of the
type approval processes;
4.1 For those Administrations using third-party quality assurance organizations, due care
should be taken to ensure all such arrangements are in place prior to initiating the
type approval programme.
4.2 The Administration should provide the applicant with a document outlining contact
details, the expected amount of time between submission and decision and any other
requirements separate from the procedures and requirements outlined in the instruments
listed in section 2 of this Guidance.
4.3 The Administration should verify that any recommendations made by MEPC during
Basic and Final Approval have been addressed prior to issuing the Type Approval Certificate.
In accordance with the BWMS Code (resolution MEPC.300(72)), part 7, the Administration
should submit the final report of land-based and shipboard tests with the notification of type
approval to the Organization. The reports should be available to Member States.
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4.4 The Administration may certify a range of the BWMS capacities employing the same
principles and technology, but due consideration should be given to limitations on performance
which might arise from scaling up or scaling down.
5 APPROVAL PROCESS
5.2 The Administration should verify that the following issues have been specifically
addressed by the manufacturer and, if the evaluation of the system is carried out by a third-party
organization, these issues should be relayed to the Administration to enable a decision on:
.3 for BWMS that the Administration determines are not subject to Procedure
(G9), as provided in paragraph 2.4.11 of the annex to the BWMS Code, the
toxicity testing procedures in paragraphs 5.2.2 to 5.2.7 of Procedure (G9)
should be used when the system could reasonably be expected to result in
changes to the treated water such that adverse impacts to receiving waters
might occur upon discharge;
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.11 the list of major components, as defined in the BWMS Code, that are
included in the BWMS design;
.12 if the system is using an Active Substance, the applications for Final Approval
will have to be checked and approved by the Administration prior to making
a proposal for approval to the Organization. In addition, the cost-recovery fee
for the scientific services provided by the GESAMP-BWWG will have to be
submitted;
.15 all electrical equipment used to operate the BWMS should be of a certified
safety type required by the applicable national or international standard in
respect of the hazardous areas where it is located; and
5.3 For issuance of the Type Approval Certificate, the Administration should set the
following requirements and provisions:
.2 in due time before the expiration of the approval, the manufacturer should
prepare a report detailing the experiences with the system, including the
results of any scientific research relevant to the system, as well as any
results of port State controls, if available;
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.4 in accordance with the BWMS Code, the Type Approval Certificate should
include details on all limiting operating conditions, restrictions and/or system
design limitations (SDL) determined by the Administration for the operation
of the BWMS;
.5 an annex to the Type Approval Certificate should contain the test results of
each land-based and shipboard test run. Such test results should include at
least the numerical salinity, temperature, flow rates, and where appropriate
UV transmittance. In addition, these test results should include all other
relevant variables;
.6 the Type Approval Certificate should specify the components of the BWMS
that are type approved, including the manufacturer of each component, their
operating ranges, including temperature, specific salinity and specify the
possibility to use other similar components (e.g. filters) and the criteria for
allowing such use;
.9 any indications that the system is not performing to the standards set by the
BWM Convention, the BWMS Code and/or any additional provisions set by
the Administration should be reported by the manufacturer to the
Administration immediately;
.10 the Administration should have the opportunity to revoke the approval if
these requirements are not met; and
6.1 During the life cycle of a BWMS type approval, it may become necessary, due to
supply chain issues, obsolescence, life cycle performance, and/or ability, to improve the
performance or cost efficiency of a system that modifications to a type approved BWMS are
needed. Modifications may include BWMS design and/or operational parameters, treatment
processes, or components included within a type approved BWMS that need to be upgraded,
changed or replaced. When evaluating BWMS modifications, the type of component (major or
minor) being modified determines the extent of the evaluation necessary to ensure continued
effective operation of the BWMS.
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6.3 Resolution MEPC.300(72) incorporates the term "non-major component" but does
not provide a definition. Based on the definition of "major component" and for the purposes of
this guidance, "non-major component", also referred to as a "minor component", means "those
components that do not directly affect the ability of the system to meet the performance
standard described in regulation D-2". Examples of minor components may include pumps,
valves, common electrical components (e.g. fuses, circuit breakers), common sensors
(e.g. temperature, pressure, salinity, see also appendix, table 3), and cabinetry. Many minor
components within a BWMS are considered common marine equipment and may have marine
type approval certificates and/or testing reports following IACS UR E10, as applicable.
6.4 The manufacturer, Administration, and, if applicable, the third-party quality assurance
organization (e.g. recognized organization, nominated body, classification society, etc.) are
encouraged to use figure 1 as a means to identify whether a component is a major or minor
component.
6.5 The extent of evaluation for BWMS modifications should be proportional to the
modification (e.g. greater potential impact of the modification on BWMS effectiveness, safety
or environmental aspects may have more detailed evaluations and/or testing). For minor
component modifications when the evaluation indicates that there are no identified direct
impacts to the ability of a BWMS to meet the performance standards, no identified impacts to
normal BWMS operation, no compromise to ship safety, or no identified impacts to Final
Approval aspects under Procedure (G9), a streamlined evaluation process that facilitates time
efficient type approval amendments should be implemented. Review of proposed
modifications to minor components by the Administration should confirm that normal BWMS
operation and/or ship safety will not be compromised. Additional testing and/or evaluation
should only be required when functional equivalency has not been demonstrated, or if the
review indicates there may be impacts to normal BWMS operation and/or ship safety.
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Manufacturers submit
documents and request for a
BWMS modification to the
Administration
Manufacturer to
prepare and
Yes submit
documentation to
prove the
Major component equivalency of the
components
Administration to
determine the Administration review to
necessary tests confirm functional
required for approval of equivalency and ensure
the modification in modification does not
accordance with the compromise normal
BWMS Code and BWMS operation and/or
guidelines developed ship safety
by the Organization
Additional
Manufacturer prepares documents and conducts testing or
Yes
testing as required by the Administration evaluation
required?
No
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6.7 Regardless of the type of BWMS modification, the manufacturer should provide to
the approving Administration:
6.8 If the modification involves any major component of the BWMS, the Administration
should determine the necessary tests for type approval of the modified BWMS, consistent with
the BWMS Code and guidelines developed by the Organization. This may include land-based
and/or shipboard testing of the BWMS (full, reduced or modified scope of BWMS Code testing
requirements), environmental testing, disinfection by-product and/or whole effluent toxicity
testing (as may be applicable to BWMS having Final Approval), operational testing, and/or
SDL verification. Approval of the modified BWMS should be based on testing data related to
the modified BWMS. A modified BWMS type approval should not be based on prior type
approval testing data that is no longer representative of the modified BWMS.
6.9 If the BWMS modification involves a minor component, the Administration should
verify that the following items have been addressed by the manufacturer:
.2 description demonstrating that the new component does not interfere with
the BWMS' ability to meet the D-2 standard and the overall function of the
system in the shipboard environment.
6.10 To allow for an efficient documentation and reporting process for BWMS
manufacturers with multiple type approvals, the Administration should provide a Type
Approval Certificate that includes the approved BWMS modifications. Type Approval
Certificates should be maintained by the BWMS manufacturer and provided to ships to which
the BWMS modifications are applicable for review during port State control inspections and/or
flag State surveys.
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6.13 This Guidance should be kept under review, and modified if necessary, considering
the experience gained regarding modifications to BWMS with an existing type approval and,
in particular, with respect to the identification of major and minor components.
7.1 The Administration should forward a report of the type approval process to the
Organization, including the relevant documentation as specified in part 7 of the annex to
the BWMS Code.
7.2 In particular, where under Procedure (G9) the Final Approval has been granted with
recommendations by the GESAMP-BWWG, evidence that these recommendations have been
satisfactorily addressed at type approval should be provided to the Organization. The report
should specify the findings of the Administration together with any non-confidential information
taking into account Procedure (G9).
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APPENDIX
Table 1
Example major components
Mechanical
Chemical injection Electrochlorination Ultraviolet irradiation
separation
• TRO or relevant • Electrolytic • Filter (if • UV chamber (if
sensor (if a part of chamber/cell (if modification modification alters
the system) modification alters alters the the technical
the technical technical specification of the
specification, e.g. specification, UV chamber, e.g.
geometry anode, e.g. mesh, geometry, inner
chlorine production) self-cleaning surface reflective
• TRO sensor technology) ability, UV lamp
arrangement)
• UV intensity or UV
transmittance
sensor (as
applicable)
• UV lamps
• UV quartz sleeves
Table 2
Examples of changes or modifications affecting major components
Mechanical Ultraviolet
Chemical injection Electrochlorination
separation irradiation
• Active substance • Software* • Filter mesh • Software*
formulation • Dosage design • Dosage
• Software* • Filter mesh size
• Dosage • Filter
manufacturer or
separation
technology
• Self-cleaning
technology
• Removal of filter
• Filter surface
area
* Only software modifications that have the potential to directly impact biological efficacy are considered
modifications to a major component.
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Table 3
Example minor components, similar technical specifications provided
• Actuation switch • Electrical cabinetry • Mixing, circulation • Signage
• Actuation/activation • Filter backflush or injection pump • Switch,
button pump • Piping materials temperature
• Alarm horn • Filter index arm • Pressure • Terminal blocks
• Cabling motor transmitter • Touch panel
• Circuit breakers • Flow meter • Program Logic • Transformer
• Cleaning-in-place • Fuses Controller • Valves
unit • Gas detector • Rectifier • Water level
• Conductivity • Heat exchanger • Remote operation switch
sensor (non-pasteurization) panel
• Conductivity • HMI screen • Salinity
transmitter • Junction box transmitter
• Dilution blower • Sensor,
differential
pressure
• Sensor,
temperature
Components in table 3 may not be considered minor if the Administration determines that they
might affect the BWMS' ability to meet the D-2 standard.
___________
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