After the BWM Convention came into force, who inspected the systems and what did they look at?

• A. Port state inspectors; verify certification of the ship's equipment, record book and sample the ballast water discharge
• B. Flag state inspectors; verify crew training records
• C. Classification societies; examine hull integrity
• D. Port authorities; check insurance

Answer: (A)

The key idea is how ballast water management compliance is checked when ships enter port. When the BWM Convention is in force, port state control inspectors review the vessel’s ballast water management setup to ensure it is certified and operating as required. They verify the certificate for the ballast water management equipment, check the ballast water record book, and may sample the ballast water discharge to confirm it meets the prescribed standards. This is why the described option is correct. Other roles described—flag state inspectors focusing on crew training, classification societies examining hull integrity, and port authorities checking insurance—do not specifically address ballast water management compliance under the convention.