Inchcape Shipping Services (ISS) wish to advise customers that all ships from international waters will be required to provide a ballast water sample and report when calling at Saudi Aramco ports and terminals. This new initiative will be implemented from Wednesday 16 August 2017 and should be arranged through the vessels local shipping agent.
The aim of this initiative is to ensure all ships comply with Ballast Water Management convention requirements, which has been ratified by Saudi Arabia and will become internationally enforced by 8 September 2017.
All ships should provide a printed version of their ballast water sample report, via their local agent, to Saudi Aramco Environmental Protection Department (EPD). The report should be submitted with a completed version of the latest Saudi Aramco “Ballast Water Sampling Form” during any visit to Saudi Aramco ports or terminals from 16 August. All operational delays will be on the Owner / Agency account.
The completed documents should be sent to the EPD at the following email address: ballastwatermanagement@aramco.com
For any further information or if you have any enquiries about this initiative, then please contact ISS at: YourISS.KSA@iss-shipping.com
Frequently Asked Questions:
Which ships will need to provide a ballast water sample?
A sample will need to be provided by any ships arriving from international waters outside of ROPME or PERSGA sea areas.
How will the test be conducted?
Indicative sampling must be conducted on-board and upon arrival at any Saudi Aramco port or terminal, and / or during de-ballasting discharge following BW G2 guidelines.
The ship owner / operator should arrange – via their agent – the indicative sampling test to be taken by a third party surveyor, who will take three representative samples from the top, middle and bottom of one tank.
Please note: The use and / or results of any ships own test equipment will not be recognized for the purpose of this indicative sampling requirement.
What parameters will be checked?
There are two standards – D1 and D2.
D1 is the exchange standard for ships that are not currently fitted with treatment systems and required to conduct exchange of ballast water prior to entering ROPME and PERSGA sea areas.
D2 is for ships fitted with ballast water treatment systems which have an internationally identified standard, which is accessible online.
There are indicative sampling testing kits that can be used for both D1 and D2 standards.
If a ballast water sample does not pass the test what will happen to the vessel?
Whilst Saudi Aramco is keen to ensure ships conduct ballast water exchange or, where applicable, treatment, test results will not impact a ship’s operation during their first visit after 16 August.
However, ships that cannot show that exchange or treatment was carried out will be flagged for more stringent inspection during their next visit. If necessary, further measures will be taken against violating ships.
Is there anything else ships need to be aware of?
Saudi Aramco is continuously looking to improve and increase its ability to test ballast water, to ensure that international regulations are updated accordingly to protect our marine environment. All approved service providers are working closely with Saudi Aramco looking at new ways to acquire the most accurate results possible.
Ships should have Ballast Water Treatment System (BWTS) installed on-board following the first renewal of its IOPP certificate after 8 September 2017.
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Source: Inchcape Shipping & Services
