Ballast Water

There are no ballast reception facilities at Hazira Port therefore all ships must arrive with clean ballast in segregated ballast tanks (SBT). Only clean ballast water from SBT tanks can be discharged overboard, subject to inspection and approval by the Loading Master. All ballast water contained in tanks, not designated as SBT, must be retained on board.

Minimum Ballast water Quality

The Government of India has indicated that it may implement unilaterally the provisions of IMO Draft Regulations for the Control and Management of Ships Ballast Water to minimize the Transfer of Harmful Aquatic Organisms and Pathogens (MEPC 39/7). This will require all ships intending to discharge clean ballast in Indian waters to have carried out a complete change of ballast water at a distance of at least 50 miles from the Indian coastline.

Under IMO Draft Regulation B-4 Ballast Water Exchange, all ships using ballast water exchange should:

Whenever possible, conduct ballast water exchange at least 200 nautical miles from the nearest land and in water at least 200 metre in depth, taking into account Guidelines developed by IMO;

In cases where the ship is unable to conduct ballast water exchange as above, this should be as far from the nearest land as possible, and in all cases at least 50 nautical miles from the nearest land and in water at least 200 metre in depth.