Tier III - Work Instructions – Completion of the Canadian Ballast Water Reporting Form

On this page

• Purpose
• Authority
• Action Steps
  • General information
  • Form completion
    • Section 1 – Vessel information
    • Section 2 – Voyage information
    • Section 3 – Ballast water usage and capacity
    • Section 4 – Ballast water management
    • Section 5 – Ballast Water History
    • Section 6 – Name of the Master / Email addresses / phone number
• Related documents
• RDIMS Reference
• Keywords
• Annex I: Further information for the completion of the BWRF

1 Purpose

1.1 This work instructions is to supplement the Ship Safety Bulletin #07/2022 - Instructions for submitting Canadian Ballast Water Reporting Form

1.2 The purpose of this work instruction is to establish common understanding and achieving harmonization in the Canadian Ballast Water Reporting Form (BWRF) completion which must be submitted by the master of a vessel that is bound for a port, offshore terminal, or anchorage area in Canada to Transport Canada Marine Safety and Security (TCMSS) in accordance with the Ballast Water Regulations (The Regulations).

2 Authority

2.1 The Canada Shipping Act, 2001

2.2 The Ballast Water Regulations

2.3 This national work instructions comes under the overall administrative authority of the Executive Director, Navigation Safety and Environmental Programs (AMSE) has approved this procedure for general application.

3 Action Steps

General information

3.1 TCMSS requests that all vessels submit a BWRF, reporting all tanks regardless of their ballast or de-ballasting intentions, in order that the Transport Canada Marine Safety and Security (TCMSS) may provide timely advice to the vessel to ensure compliance with the Regulations should they be required to discharge or uptake ballast water later on in the voyage.

3.2 Ballast water as defined in the definition section of the Ballast Water Regulations means water with its suspended matter taken on board a ship to control trim, list, draught, stability, or stresses of the vessel

3.3 The BWRF is available in three (3) configurations – for a vessel with 20, 30 and 50 tanks. Please use the shortest form which allows for the total number of tanks and holds recorded in the vessel’s ballast water management plan (BWMP).

3.4 TCMSS does not accept expired/outdated BWRF versions. To fully comply with all reporting requirements, vessel’s master must use the current version of the Canadian BWRF available at the time of the submission.

3.5 You can save the data typed into this form on your computer for your records. The BWRF shall be sent as an “Active” PDF using “save” or “ save as” file options to enable data entry software.

3.6 Forms which have been “scanned” and then attached will NOT be accepted.

3.7 Forms “Printed to PDF “will NOT be accepted.

3.8 Only data contained in “Fillable Fields” is accepted, “Non-Editable” forms cannot be accepted by TCMSS therefore the vessel will be required to re-submit as an “Active” PDF.

3.9 All entries should follow the guidance as provided in these instructions.

3.10 All fields shall be filled in, even if the values are zero or NA.

3.11 The dates and sources of ALL ballast tanks are to be recorded whether empty, having residuals or ballasted.

3.12 Once the BWRF is completed by the Master, an electronic copy is to be forwarded to TCMSS in the manner described in the Ship Safety Bulletin #07/2022 - Instructions for submitting Canadian Ballast Water Reporting Form

Form Completion

3.13 Date of submission: Enter the date using the drop-down calendar as a preferred approach to minimize manual entries and avoid errors. All dates shall be entered in the format of yyyy-mm-dd (separating year, month and date by a “- “).

3.14 Time of submission (UTC): Enter the time that the report will be sent (UTC) using the 24-hour clock format.

3.15 Amended Form: Check “Yes” if this is an amended reporting form or “No” if it is not. Amended forms are to be submitted if there are any changes to the original ballast water reporting form. This could include changes in the “Arrival Date,” “Arrival Port” or planned ballast discharges. An amended form is to be submitted if the actual ballast discharged is different from the originally reported discharge.

Section 1 – Vessel information

3.16 Vessel name: Enter the name of the vessel. In case of tug and barge operation (pull, push, sideway or an articulated tug and Barge), please enter both vessel names, separated by a hyphen (-) . Do not add additional extension such as “M/V” (Motor Vessel), “M/S” (Motor Ship) or “T/S” (Tanker Ship / Tall Ship).

3.17 MMSI Number: Enter the vessel’s Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI) number.

3.18 IMO Number: Enter the vessel’s IMO number as established under the IMO Ship Identification Number Scheme.

3.19 Distinctive number or letters/Call sign: Enter the vessel’s Official Number or call sign or other identification Number if no Official Number does exist for the vessel. For tug and barge combinations, please list multiple vessel numbers separated by a hyphen (-).

3.20 Gross tonnage: Enter the gross tonnage of the vessel as established under the International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships, 1969 or any successor Convention. No decimals. In case of tug and barge combinations, enter both vessel GRT separated by a hyphen (-)

3.21 Date of construction: Enter the date of construction as defined in the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships ‘Ballast Water and Sediments, 2004 hereafter (The Convention), Regulation A-1, using the drop-down calendar as a preferred approach to minimize manual entries and avoid errors. All dates shall be entered in the format of yyyy-mm-dd (separating year, month, and date by a “- “).

3.22 Max breadth: Enter the maximum breadth of the vessel or the tug and barge combinations

3.23 Length overall: Enter the length overall of the vessel or the tug and barge combinations

3.24 Type: Enter specific vessel type as per the Certificate of Registry document using the drop-down menu with the following list. Write out any other vessel types not otherwise specified, by selecting other vessel than type:

• Bulk carrier (as defined in SOLAS regulation IX/1, but excludes combination carrier)
• Chemical tanker (includes all types)
• Combination carrier (includes ore / oil and ore / bulk / oil carrier)
• Container vessel (to be applied only to vessel specifically constructed or adapted to carry containers)
• Factory vessel
• Fishing vessel
• Gas carrier (includes all types)
• General cargo / multipurpose ship (to be used for other cargo vessels when no other ship type code is applicable)
• Heavy load carrier
• High speed cargo craft (includes all vessels constructed under the DSC or HSC code)
• High speed passenger craft (includes all vessels constructed under the DSC or HSC code)
• Livestock carrier
• MODU & FPSO (mobile offshore drilling unit and floating production, storage, offloading unit)
• NLS tanker (Only for Noxious Liquid Substances (NLS) to which the International Bulk Chemical Code (IBC Code) does not apply)
• Non-self-propelled Barge.
• Offshore service vessel (includes such types as offshore supply vessel, anchor handling vessels, rescue / standby vessels)
• Ore-bulk-oil carrier (OBO)
• Oil tanker (to be applied to vessels only certified to carry mineral oil)
• Passenger vessel (not to be used for vessels constructed under the DSC or HSC code)
• Refrigerated cargo carrier
• Ro-Ro cargo vessel
• Ro-Ro passenger vessel (not be used for vessels constructed under the DSC or HSC code,)
• Self-propelled barge
• Special purpose vessel (to be used only when the Special Purpose Ships Code (SPS Code) is applicable)
• Supported Craft Code (DSC code) or High-Speed Craft Code (ISC) code))
• Tugboat
• Vehicle carrier
• Woodchip carrier
• Other types of vessels (not otherwise specified)

3.25 Flag: Enter the full name of the State or territory whose flag the vessel is flying at the moment of the BWRF submission. No abbreviations will be accepted.

3.26 Owner: Enter the name of the registered owner(s) of the vessel. If under charterer, enter the name of the operator.

3.27 ISM Company name and number: Enter the name of the company as defined under the SOLAS, Chapter IX-1 and International Safety Management Code and its Identification number, which conforms, to the IMO Unique Company and Registered Owner Identification Number Scheme adopted by IMO.

“Company means the owner of the ship or any other organization or person such as the manager, or the bareboat charterer, who has assumed the responsibility for operation of the ship from the owner of the ship and who on assuming such responsibility has agreed to take over all the duties and responsibilities imposed by the international Safety Management Code”

Section 2 – Voyage information

3.28 All “port” fields should contain only the name of the port and not the country.

No abbreviations shall be used.

3.29 Arrival port: If the port is entered, the proper UNLOCODE at the following link shall be used as a preferred approach for standardization and to avoid errors: UN/LOCODE Code List by Country and Territory.

If UNLOCODE is not available, or offshore terminal or anchorage area is entered, No abbreviation shall be used.

3.30 State/Province: Select the name of the Canadian province, territory, or U.S. state (located in the Great Lakes) for the arrival port using the drop-down menu.

Abbreviations to be used are as follows:

• British Columbia – BC;
• Illinois – IL;
• Indiana – IN;
• Michigan – MI;
• Minnesota – MN;
• New Brunswick – NB;
• New York – NY;
• Newfoundland – NL.
• Northwest Territories – NT;
• Nova Scotia – NS;
• Nunavut – NU;
• Ohio – OH;
• Ontario – ON;
• Pennsylvania – PA;
• Prince Edward Island – PE,
• Quebec –QC;
• Washington - WA
• Wisconsin – WI;
• Yukon – YT.

3.31 Country: Select the full name of the country of the arrival port, offshore terminal, or anchorage area at which the vessel will call by using the drop-down menu.

3.32 Arrival date: Enter the scheduled arrival date to the above port, offshore terminal, or anchorage area using the drop-down calendar as the preferred approach to minimize manual entries and avoid errors. All dates shall be entered in the format of yyyy-mm-dd (separating year, month, and date by a “- “).

3.33 Agent: Enter the name of the appointed marine agent used for the “Arrival port."

3.34 Last port: If the port is entered, the proper UNLOCODE at the following link shall be used as a preferred approach for standardization and to avoid errors: UN/LOCODE Code List by Country and Territory. If UNLOCODE is not available, or offshore terminal or anchorage area is entered, No abbreviation shall be used.

3.35 Country of Last port: If the country is entered, the proper UNLOCODE at the following link shall be used as a preferred approach for standardization and to avoid errors: UN/LOCODE Code List by Country and Territory. If UNLOCODE is not available, No abbreviation shall be used.

3.36 Next port: If the next port is entered, the proper UNLOCODE at the following link shall be used as a preferred approach for standardization and to avoid errors: UN/LOCODE Code List by Country and Territory. If UNLOCODE is not available, or offshore terminal or anchorage area is entered, No abbreviation shall be used.

3.37 Country of Next port: If the country of next port is entered, the proper UNLOCODE at the following link shall be used as a preferred approach for standardization and to avoid errors: UN/LOCODE Code List by Country and Territory. If UNLOCODE is not available, No abbreviation shall be used.

3.38 Next port (2): If the next port (2) is entered, the proper UNLOCODE at the following link shall be used as a preferred approach for standardization and to avoid errors: UN/LOCODE Code List by Country and Territory. If UNLOCODE is not available, or offshore terminal or anchorage area is entered, No abbreviation shall be used.  If the “Next port (2)” is unknown, enter “Unknown."

3.39 Country of Next port (2): If the country  of  next port (2) is entered, the proper UNLOCODE at the following link shall be used as a preferred approach for standardization and to avoid errors: UN/LOCODE Code List by Country and Territory. If UNLOCODE is not available, No abbreviation shall be used.

3.40 Next port (3): If the next port (3) is entered, the proper UNLOCODE at the following link shall be used as a preferred approach for standardization and to avoid errors: UN/LOCODE Code List by Country and Territory. If UNLOCODE is not available, or offshore terminal or anchorage area is entered, No abbreviation shall be used.  If the “Next port (2)” is unknown, enter “Unknown."

3.41 Country of Next port (3): If the country  of  next port (3) is entered, the proper UNLOCODE at the following link shall be used as a preferred approach for standardization and to avoid errors: UN/LOCODE Code List by Country and Territory. If UNLOCODE is not available, No abbreviation shall be used.

Section 3 –Ballast Water Usage and Capacity

Total ballast water on board:

3.42 Volume: Enter the total volume of ballast water on board, upon arrival at the “Arrival port” offshore terminal or anchorage area listed in Section 2. Volume to be recorded should be in cubic meters (m³) only.

3.43 Number of tanks in ballast: Enter the number of ballast tanks with ballast water upon arrival at the “Arrival port” offshore terminal or anchorage area” listed in Section 2. Do not include ballast tanks carrying only residual ballast water or sediment. If no ballast tanks in ballast, please enter “0."

Residual amounts as defined in the Ballast Water Regulations means the quantity of ballast water that cannot be removed from a ballast tank using the equipment installed on the vessel for that purpose and Sediments means matter settled out of ballast water within a vessel

3.44 Number of holds in ballast: Enter the number of cargo holds with ballast water, upon arrival at the “Arrival port, offshore terminal or anchorage area” listed in Section 2. Do not include cargo holds carrying only residual ballast water or sediment. If your vessel’s cargo hold(s)s are not ballasted, or if your vessel does not have cargo holds that are designed to be ballasted, enter ‘0’.

Total ballast water capacity as per the vessels ballast water management plan.

3.45 Volume: Enter the maximum volume of ballast water which can be carried as documented in the approved vessel’s BWMP. Volume to be recorded should be in cubic meters (m³) only.

3.46 Total number of tanks: Enter the number of tanks designed to carry ballast water, as listed in the approved vessel’s BWMP.

Count all tanks separately (e.g., port and starboard tanks should counted separately

3.47 Total number of holds: Enter the number of holds designed to carry ballast water, as listed in the approved vessel’s BWMP.

Section 4 – Ballast Water Management:

3.48 Fill all fields – especially taking care to fill out the field with the “Date required to meet Regulations D-2” as established under the Convention or the Regulations, as applicable. 

3.49 How many tanks/holds have been managed by: Enter the number of tanks and holds that have been managed only by exchange to meet the ballast water exchange standard (D-1); using only an approved IMO Ballast Water Management System (BWMS) to meet the ballast water performance standard (D-2). If the vessel is heading to Canadian fresh water ports using both method (D-1 + D-2) as per the Regulations and TP 13617. If using other method, please describe the IMO approved alternate method as per the annex to the Convention Regulation B-3.7 / Regulations section 13(a) or the release of potable water  as per the Regulations section 13(b)  in the management of the ballast water.

3.50 How many tanks/holds have not been managed: Enter the number of ballast water tanks and cargo holds that contain ballast that has not been managed as per ballast water exchange standard (D-1); the ballast water performance standard (D-2); or both (D-1+D-2) to meet the Regulations.

3.51 State the reason why no ballast water management was conducted: This applies to all tanks and cargo holds that have not been exchanged or treated using an IMO approved BWMS and are intended to be discharged into waters under Canadian jurisdiction or into an approved reception facility or another vessel. (Enter the reason by using the drop-down menu, if any other extraordinary conditions occur, please describe

3.52 How many tanks/holds to be discharged: Enter the number of tanks and cargo holds with ballast water that will be discharged into waters under Canadian jurisdiction or into an approved reception facility or another vessel. Count all tanks and cargo holds separately (e.g. port and starboard tanks should be counted separately). Include all tanks and cargo holds designed to carry ballast water.

3.53 Specify Ballast Water Management System used, if any (Manufacturer, Model): In case where the vessel is equipped with an approved IMO BWMS, provide the name of the manufacturer and the model of the system. In case where the BWMS is not an IMO approved type please specify under which standards the system was approved and by which authority.

3.54 Was the Ballast Water Management System fully operational during management of all D-2 tanks/holds listed above? In the case where at least one tank/cargo hold has been managed using a BWMS, indicate if that system was fully operational as per manufacturer’s specifications, Type approval certificate and the approved BWMP, when in use according to its monitoring system (e.g., no alarms indicating insufficient treatment dosage). Check “Yes” if the system was fully operational. Check “No” if there was a known issue with the treatment of ballast water currently carried on board and describe the issue. Check “N/A” if no tanks/cargo holds have been managed according to D-2 requirements.

3.55 Approved Ballast Water Management Plan on board? Is there an approved written document on board, specific to this vessel, describing the procedure for ballast water management? Indicate “Yes” or “No."

3.56 Management Plan implemented? Was the approved BWMP duly implemented? Indicate “Yes” or “No."

3.57 Ballast Water Record Book on board? Is there a document on board that meet the purpose of a Ballast Water Record Book (BWRB) in which all management procedures of ballast water on board are recorded? Indicate “Yes” or “No."

3.58 Has an International Ballast Water Management Certificate or equivalent document been issued? Indicate “Yes” or “No. If your vessel carries on board a document issued by or on behalf of the government that is not a party to the Convention which certifies that the vessel meets the requirements of the Convention (The Regulations (article 23), please indicate “Yes”

3.59 Date of issue (yyyy-mm-dd): Enter the date on which the International Ballast Water Management Certificate (hereafter IBWMC), or equivalent document (The Regulations article 23) was issued by using the drop-down calendar as a prefer approach to minimize manual entries and avoid errors. All dates shall be entered in the format of yyyy-mm-dd (separating year, month, and date by a “- “).

3.60 Expiry date (yyyy-mm-dd):  Enter the date on which the IBWMC or equivalent document that meets the Convention (Regulation D-4) / The Regulations (article 23) was issued and must be recorded by using the drop-down calendar as a preferred approach to minimize manual entries and avoid errors. All dates shall be entered in the format of yyyy-mm-dd (separating year, month, and date by a “- “).

3.61 Authority that issued the Certificate or equivalent document: Provide the name of the authority (flag State Authority or Recognized Organisation – RO) that issued the IBWMC/equivalent document that meets the Convention (Regulation D-4) / The Regulations (article 23).

3.62 Place of issue. Provide the name of the place where the IBWMC or equivalent document that meets the Convention (Regulation D-4) / The Regulations (article 23) was issued.

3.63 Last survey /Endorsement Date (yyyy-mm-dd): Provide the date of the last intermediate, annual, or any other additional endorsement as per the Convention / The Regulations by using the drop-down calendar as a preferred approach to minimize manual entries and avoid errors. All dates shall be entered in the format of yyyy-mm-dd (separating year, month and date by a “- “)

Should none of these has been performed “N/A” must be recorded under this item.

3.64 Surveying authority: Provide the name of the authority (flag State Authority or Recognized Organisation – RO) that performed the last survey.

3.65 Date required to meet Regulations D-2  (yyyy-mm-dd): Enter the date by which the vessel has to meet the Annex of the Convention, Regulation B-3/D-2 (and the Regulations) ballast water performance standard by using the drop-down calendar as a preferred approach to minimize manual entries and avoid errors. All dates shall be entered in the format of yyyy-mm-dd (separating year, month, and date by a “- “).

3.66 Canadian Ballast Water Regulations on board?: Is a copy of the current Canadian Ballast Water Regulations available on board - Indicate “Yes”or “No."

3.67 Applicable regulation: Use the drop-down list to enter the version: Canada SOR/ 2021-120 of the “Ballast Water Regulations," or Canada SOR/ 2021-120 of the “Ballast Water Regulations” & US 33 CFR part 151 C and D, N/A if none of them is applicable. In the latest case, please select one of the N/A choice in the scrolling menu to describe the reason: N/A (Canada SOR 2021 – 120 art. 3 (3) (b) - owned or operated by a state) or N/A (Canada SOR 2021 – 120 art. 3 (3) (c) - permanent ballast water in sealed tanks).

If you do not have a copy of the current Canadian “Ballast Water Regulations," as amended from time to time, it may be downloaded at the following web address: https://lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-2021-120/index.html

If you do not have a copy of the USCG “Part 151 – Vessels carrying oil, noxious liquid substances, garbage, municipal or commercial waste, and ballast water” it may be downloaded at the following web address: https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text idx?SID=29a1c2e98fe506c369a95af1475b7ed3&mc=true&node=pt33.2.151&rgn=div5

Section 5 – Ballast Water History

3.68 Record information for all ballast tanks/holds regardless of ballast water management intentions in the section 5 tables (Ballast Water sources are the most recent uptakes prior to any ballast water management practices).

3.69 Record information for each ballast water tank/hold across the page listing the original source (s) of the ballast water under “BW Source before Management," all management events under “BW Management Practices," and all discharge events under “Proposed BW Discharge” separately.

Please note, that the columns for BW Management Practices marked with an (A) are to be filled out if an exchange (D1)  (Sequential, Flow Through, Dilution or Salt Water Flushing)  of ballast water,  was conducted.

Please refer to various scenarios in annex 1 of this document which provide further information for the completion of the form.

3.70 If no discharges are planned for the current planned trip, columns 15 to 18 in subsection “Proposed BW Discharge” are to remain blank.

The Following four fields are automatically populated in page 2 of the form:

3.71 Vessel name:

3.72 IMO Number:  

3.73 MSSI Number:

3.74 Arrival date (yyyy-mm-dd):

Ballast Water Source before management:

3.75 Tanks/Holds list multiple sources/tanks separately (Column 1): List all ballast water tanks and holds separately (e.g., port and starboard tanks should be on separate rows), use tank codes: FP=Forepeak; DB=Double bottom; WT=Wing tank; TS=Topside; AP=Aftpeak; CH=Cargo hold; O = Other). List multiple ballast water sources for the same tank on separate lines.

3.76 Tank capacity (Column 2): Enter the maximum volumetric capacity of the tank in cubic meters (m3).

3.77 Date (Column 3): Enter the date of the last ballast water uptake, PRIOR to any ballast water management, using the drop-down calendar as a preferred approach to minimize manual entries and avoid errors. All dates shall be entered in the format of yyyy-mm-dd (separating year, month and date by a “- “).

3.78 Port or latitude & longitude (00 00 N/S, 000 00 E/W) (Column 4): Enter the location of the last ballast water uptake. This will be the position/port of the last ballast uptake PRIOR to any management, or the “End Point” from an exchange carried out on a previous voyage. All position (latitude and longitude) shall be entered in the format: 00 00 N or 00 00 S; Longitude (examples: 000 00 W or 000 00 E). Latitude (examples: 56 32 N or 56 32 S); Longitude examples: 016 25 W or 159 42 E must be used. If a port is entered  the proper UNLOCODE at the following link shall be used as a preferred approach for standardization and to avoid errors: https://unece.org/trade/cefact/unlocode-code-list-country-and-territory. If UNLOCODE is not available, No abbreviation shall be used.

3.79 Volume (m3) on arrival (Column 5): Enter the volume of ballast water in the tank, in cubic meters (m3) on arrival at the port, offshore terminal or anchorage area entered in Section 2 “Arrival Port."

Ballast Water Management Practices:

3.80 For ballast water management by exchange, Saltwater flushing or treatment: Fill in all data in columns under the general heading of “BW Management Practices.”

3.81 Date (yyyy-mm-dd) (Column 6): Enter the date of ballast water management by using the drop-down calendar as a prefer approach to minimize manual entries and avoid errors. All dates shall be entered in the format of yyyy-mm-dd (separating year, month and date by a “- “). If the exchange or treatment occurred over several days, enter the day when the ballast water management was completed.

3.82 Start point latitude & longitude (00 00 N/S, 000 00 E/W) (Column 7): Complete this column only if exchange (D-1 only or D-1+D-2) or saltwater flushing has been conducted. Enter the location of the starting point of the ballast water management practice. All position (latitude and longitude) shall be entered in the format: 00 00 N or 00 00 S; and 000 00 W or 000 00 E). Latitude examples: 56 32 N or 56 32 S; Longitude examples: 016 25 W or 159 42 E must be used.

3.83 End point latitude & longitude (00 00 N/S, 000 00 E/W) (Column 8): Complete this column only if exchange (D-1 only or D-1+D-2) or saltwater flushing has been conducted. Enter the location of the End point of the ballast water management practice. This will be the position/port of any management carried out. All position (latitude and longitude) shall be entered in the format: 00 00 N or 00 00 S; & 000 00 W or 000 00 E). Latitude examples: 56 32 N or 56 32 S; Longitude examples: 016 25 W or 159 42 E must be used

3.84 Used Volume (m3) (Column 9): Complete this column only if exchange   (D-1 only or D-1+D-2) or saltwater flushing has been conducted. Enter total volume of water used for ballast water management for that tank in cubic metres (m3).

3.85 % Exch (Column 10): Complete this column only if exchange (D-1 only or D-1+D-2) or saltwater flushing has been conducted. Calculate the percentage of tanks volumetric capacity used to exchange: (Note: for effective flow through exchange, this value should be at least 300%).

$\mathrm{\%\; Exchange}= \frac{\mathrm{Total\; Volume\; of\; water\; moved\; by\; “Sequential,”\; moved\; by\; “Flow\; Through,”\; or\; used\; in\; “Salt\; Water\; Flushing”}}{\mathrm{Capacity\; of\; Ballast\; Tank\; or\; Hold}}\times 100$

3.86 D – 1 method (Column 11): Complete this column only if exchange (D-1 only or D-1+D-2) or saltwater flushing has been conducted. Indicate, using the drop-down menu, the management method using the appropriate code (N/A=not applicable, SM=sequential method, FTM=flow through method, SWF=saltwater flushing, R = retention method, NM=no management, DM = dilution method, PW=potable water, PRF=port reception facility).

3.87 D – 2 method (Column 12): Select this check box in the case where ballast water on board was treated using ballast water management system (D-2 only, or D-1 + D-2).

3.88 Minimum Depth (m) (Column 13): Complete this column only if exchange (D-1 only or D-1+D-2) or saltwater flushing has been conducted. Enter the minimum depth in meters during the ballast water exchange or flushing

3.89 Salinity (units) ppt (Column 14): Indicate the salinity of the ballast water in the tanks after the exchange, saltwater flushing or treatment was completed, with units in parts per thousand (ppt).

• If the vessel does NOT have a refractometer on board to determine the salinity, tables converting specific gravity to salinity are available for download at the following NOAA link: https://greatlakes-seaway.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/NOAA_conversion_table_tm-1391.pdf (PDF, 388 KB)

Proposed BW Discharge:

3.90 Complete columns under the general heading of “Proposed BW Discharge” only if de-ballasting will take place in waters under Canadian jurisdiction.

3.91 Note that if the amount of ballast water to be discharged is later determined to be different from the amount initially reported, then an amended BWRF is to be submitted. In this case, please check the “Yes” option in the first line on page one of the form to indicate that this form is an amended form for this voyage.

3.92 Date (yyyy-mm-dd) (Column 15): Record the date of the proposed ballast water discharge by using the drop-down calendar as a preferred approach to minimize manual entries and avoid errors. All dates shall be entered in the format of yyyy-mm-dd (separating year, month and date by a “- “)

3.93 Port or latitude & longitude (00 00 N/S, 000 00 E/W) (Column 16): Report the location of the proposed ballast water discharge as either position or port. All position (latitude and longitude) shall be entered in the format: 00 00 N or 00 00 S; & 000 00 W or 000 00 E). Latitude examples: 56 32 N or 56 32 S; Longitude examples: 016 25 W or 159 42 E must be used. If a port is entered  the proper UNLOCODE at the following link shall be used as a preferred approach for standardization and to avoid errors: https://unece.org/trade/cefact/unlocode-code-list-country-and-territory. If UNLOCODE is not available, No abbreviation shall be used.

3.94 Volume (m3) (Column 17): Report the expected volume of ballast water to be discharged in cubic meters. Do not enter “Depends on cargo operations” or similar statements. If the actual amount discharged is significantly different from the proposed ballast water discharge initially reported, then an amended form must be submitted.

3.95 Salinity (units) ppt (Column 18): Indicate the salinity of the ballast water to be discharged in parts per thousand (ppt).

• If the vessel does NOT have a refractometer on board to determine the salinity, tables converting specific gravity to salinity are available for download at the following NOAA link: https://greatlakes-seaway.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/NOAA_conversion_table_tm-1391.pdf (PDF, 388 KB)

Section 6 –Name of the Master / Email addresses / phone number

• Enter the a) name of the master, b) vessels contact email addresses and c) phone number.

4 Related Documents

4.1 Ballast Water Reporting Form (BWRF):

• 85-0512-AE (PDF, 324 KB) (20 tanks) 
• 85-0512-BE (PDF, 342 KB) (30 tanks)
• 85-0512-CE (PDF, 336 KB) (50 tanks) 

4.2 Ballast Water Regulations (BWR):

4.3 Ship Safety Bulletin (SSB) 07/2022 - Instructions for submitting Canadian Ballast Water Reporting Form

5 RDIMS Reference

5.1 The English version of this document is saved in RDIMS under reference number 18375284  

5.2 La version française du présent document est dans le SGDDI et porte le numéro de référence 18375350

6 Keywords

• Ballast Water Regulations (BWR)
• Ballast Water Reporting Form (BWRF)
• Ballast Water Management System (BWMS)

Annex I: Further information for the completion of the BWRF

1. Vessel arriving at a Canadian salt or fresh water port without a BWMS fitted

a. Ballast managed by D-1 mid-ocean exchange. Ballast water source is located Hamburg, then exchange in mid-ocean (D-1) using the flow through method and will be discharged in Halifax.

2. Vessel arriving at a Canadian saltwater port with a BWMS fitted

a. Ballast managed on uptake at Hamburg using the BWMS and will be discharged in Halifax.

3. Vessel arriving at a Canadian fresh water port with a BWMS fitted

a. Vessel managed ballast by the BWMS on uptake at Hamburg

b. Then managed mid-ocean by exchange using the flow through method and BWMS,

c. and will be discharged in Montreal.

Related links

• Table of Contents
• Tier I - Policies
• Tier II - Procedures
• Tier III – Work Instructions
• e-MSMS