Compliance
IMO, Australian biosecurity, flag, class and manufacturer approvals are distinct. They are not collapsed into a single worldwide claim.
Last technical review 2026-08-28|Last regulatory review 2026-08-28
Regulatory requirements vary according to vessel, flag, class, voyage, operating area and other circumstances. Information on this website is general in nature and is not a substitute for vessel-specific regulatory, class or legal advice.
Vessels subject to the Convention must manage ballast water in accordance with applicable requirements. BWMS used for compliance with the Convention are subject to the applicable type-approval framework. The Convention entered into force on 8 September 2017.
D-2 is the ballast water performance standard: a biological discharge limit for viable organisms and specified indicator microbes. It is a discharge standard, not a product endorsement. This page does not reproduce the full numerical standard. Read the current Convention text from IMO.
An installed BWMS needs appropriate type approval for its intended regulatory context. An approval issued for a defined configuration does not apply universally to every vessel, model variant, flag or jurisdiction. Current certificate, issuing body, applicable models and validity must be confirmed for the installation.
Ballast water is also regulated within Australia’s marine biosecurity framework, including requirements under the Biosecurity Act 2015 and Australia’s ballast water management arrangements. Alignment with the IMO Convention does not replace Australian biosecurity obligations. Confirm the current Australian Ballast Water Management Requirements from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
If the question is a particular vessel, start there.