Brazilian ballast water requirement

Owners have reported encountering difficulties with the new Brazilian ballast water management requirements issued by the Directoria de Portos e Costas (DPC). The new regulations came into affect on October 15, 2005 and apply to all commercial ships calling on Brazilian ports and terminals regardless of flag. The new regulations require ships to exchange ballast water prior to arrival and to have a ballast water management (BWM) plan, specific for the ship, which details its BWM procedures. There is no requirement for a “Ballast Water Management Certificate”. The ship must send a ballast water report form to the Harbour Master or its agent 24 hours prior to arrival in port and retain a copy onboard.

Ballast water exchange must take place at least 200 nautical miles (nm) offshore in water at least 200 meters deep; or, if this is not possible, not less than 50 nm from land in water at least 200 m deep. Drilling units will have to comply with the exchange requirements upon first arrival in Brazil from another port or from international waters. Ships entering the Amazon and Para Rivers from international voyages or other regions must undertake a second exchange of one tank volume to reduce the salinity of the water ballast

For Brazilian-flag ships and those chartered to Brazil, the BWM plan is to be approved by a Classification Society recognized by the DPC. Ships of other flags must have the plan approved by a classification society recognized by the flag Administration or the local Port Authority. Vessels arriving in Brazilian ports after 30 June 2006, must have an approved BWMP.