USA

Washington Ballast Water Management Program

This Brochure is reproduced with the kind permission of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife:

HOW DO I COMPLY WITH WASHINGTON'S BALLAST WATER LAWS?

REPORT:All vessels over 300 gross tons that intend to discharge, except military vessels, must report at least 24 hours prior to discharging ballast.

NOTIFY: Vessels not intending to discharge should notify the department as outlined on page 2.

EXCHANGE: All vessels intending to discharge ballast are required to conduct an open ocean exchange. Vessels on coastal voyages are required to conduct an exchange at least 50 miles off shore. Exemptions on page 5.

FUTURE TREATMENT REQUIREMENTS: <br >(Update March 2006)

As of July 1, 2007, the discharge of improperly exchanged or treated ballast water into Washington State waters is prohibited. This means current safety exemptions for exchange will no longer be valid after July 1, 2007. Vessel operators must begin now to plan for implementing treatment alternatives to exchange.

By July 1, 2006, operators must submit a report to WDFW describing how they will meet the July 1, 2007 requirements.

(This Paragraph has been updated using information from the WDFW website as at March 2006)

Page 1

BALLAST WATER MANAGEMENT AND CONTROL---REPORTING AND SAMPLING REQUIREMENTS.

REPORTING: All vessels, except military vessels, intending to discharge ballast into Washington waters must report ballast water management information at least twenty-four hours prior to entering Washington waters by filing a ballast water reporting form through the department's designated agents as follows:

Vessels bound for Puget Sound or coastal ports must file their ballast water reporting form with the Marine Exchange of Puget Sound in Seattle.

Vessels bound for Washington or Oregon ports on the Columbia River must file their ballast water reporting form with the Merchants Exchange of Portland to comply with both Washington and Oregon ballast water laws.

NOTIFICATION: Vessels not intending to discharge ballast water into Washington state waters shall notify the department in one of the following ways:

1. LETTER: Vessel operators who do not wish to file a ballast water reporting form may send a signed letter to the state ANS coordinator, at Department of Fish and Wildlife, 600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501.

Page 2

The Letter must contain the following information:

• Vessel name, identification number (International Maritime Organization, Lloyds of London or U.S. Coast Guard registry number), owner, agent and vessel type; and
• A statement that the vessel will not discharge ballast water.

2. FILING Vessels that would normally discharge ballast water, but will not discharge on any given trip, may continue to file the ballast water reporting form, with "not discharging" written in the ballast water history section.

The department, or designated representatives, may at reasonable times and in a reasonable manner, during a vessel's scheduled stay in port, take samples of ballast water and sediment, may examine ballast water management records, and may make other appropriate inquiries to assess the compliance of vessels with ballast water reporting and control requirements.

REPORTING FORMS and instructions are available on the internet at: http://invasions.si.edu/bwform.htm

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WASHINGTON STATE BALLAST WATER MANAGEMENT LAW EFFECTIVE SEPT. 22, 2000

At least 24 hours before a vessel enters Washington waters intending to discharge ballast water, or 24 hours prior to actual discharge the master of the vessel must report ballast water management information in written or electronic form to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. This information may be submitted by filing a ballast water report pursuant to U.S. Coast Guard protocol by fax or email to the Marine Exchange or the Merchants Exchange. An amended report must be filed in the event ballast management information changes. Vessels that fail to report may be subject to a civil penalty of up to $500.

Any owner or operator who knowingly and intentionally falsifies a ballast water management report is liable for a civil penalty of up to $5,000, in addition to criminal penalties of up to five years imprisonment, or a fine of $5,000 or both.

The law requires all vessels intending to discharge ballast water, with certain safety exceptions, to conduct an open ocean exchange according to prescribed measures. Vessels on coastal voyages are required to conduct an exchange at least 50 miles offshore. Vessels that discharge un-exchanged ballast water that have not filed for a safety exemption may be subject to a civil penalty of up to $5,000.

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Pre-arrival ballast exchange is required prior to discharge in Washington waters except in the following situations:

1. When it is not safe to exchange ballast. In this case, a safety exemption should be declared on the reporting form.

2. When a vessel has design limitations or equipment malfunctions that preclude exchange. In this case, a safety exemption should be declared on the reporting form.

3. When the ballast water was loaded within the waters of Washington State and has not been mixed with waters or sediments from outside the Columbia River, the Straits of Juan de Fuca or Georgia, or the internal waters of British Columbia south of latitude fifty degrees north.

4. When an approved ballast treatment system is used that meets Washington State ballast discharge standards.

Click here to view Steamship website article on the Washington State Ballast Water Management Regulations.