U.S. Coast Guard Changes Ballast Water Management Reporting

The United States Coast Guard (USCG) announced revisions to the Ballast Water Management Reporting Form, including the removal of the alternative ballast water management clause and the addition of data collection of recent dry dock dates for vessels.  

On July 20th, 2020, the USCG obtained approval from the White House's Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to adopt amendments to the Ballast Water Management Reporting Form (OMB number 1625-0069). This revision includes two significant changes:

• The yes/no question "Alternative BW management conducted, per instructions from COTP" has been removed.
• All vessels are now required to report the date of their last dry dock, information that is critical to the USCG for determining a vessel's compliance date as specified in 33 CFR 151.1512 & 151.2035.

This amended Ballast Water Management Reporting Form replaces all previous and expired versions. The National Ballast Information Clearinghouse (NBIC) no longer accepts the expired reporting forms. All vessels must use the new Ballast Water Management Reporting Form immediately to comply with USCG Ballast Water reporting requirements fully.

Any vessels equipped with ballast water tanks that are traveling to ports or places in the United States must submit a Ballast Water Management Report to the NBIC. The report must be submitted no later than 6 hours after arrival at the port or destination or before departure from that port or previous destination.

The new Ballast Water Management Reporting Form (OMB number 1625-0069, expiration date July 31st, 2023) is on the NBIC website as a PDF form or through the Web Application Form.