Which statement is true about Ballast Water Management Convention requirements?

• A. The Convention is voluntary for ships under 5,000 gross tonnage
• B. Every ship must have Ballast Water Management Plan and a person responsible for developing and operating it; and keep Records
• C. It requires no on-board records
• D. It restricts inspections to flag states only

Answer: (B)

Ballast Water Management is enforced to prevent spreading invasive species by ensuring ships manage ballast water in a standardized, accountable way. The statement that every ship must have a Ballast Water Management Plan and a designated person responsible for developing and operating it, and must keep records, captures the essential, actionable requirements. The plan sets out how ballast water is taken in, treated, and discharged; the designated person ensures the plan is properly developed, implemented, and kept up to date, and that crew training and compliance are maintained. Keeping records provides an auditable trail of ballast water operations, including treatments used and discharge details, which can be checked during inspections.

This isn’t a voluntary requirement, nor is it limited by ship size. And ships are not exempt from maintaining on-board records; port state control can inspect these records, not just flag states.