Preparing for the 2025 Joint Concentrated Inspection Campaign on Ballast Water Management

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From 1 September to 30 November 2025, ships calling at ports under the Tokyo and Paris MoUs will be subject to a Joint Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) on Ballast Water Management (BWM). This campaign is designed to ensure that vessels comply with the requirements of the Ballast Water Management Convention (2004) and that documentation, systems, and crew procedures are consistently in order.

Why This Matters

Ballast water has a critical impact on marine ecosystems, and the IMO’s BWM Convention has been in place to minimise the spread of invasive species. Port State Control authorities are now reinforcing compliance through this targeted inspection period.

For shipping companies, this is not only about avoiding deficiencies or detentions - it’s also about proving that certification, maintenance, and documentation processes are robust, up to date, and well understood by crews.

What inspectors will be looking at

During the campaign, Port State Control Officers will use a standard questionnaire to verify compliance in key areas, including:

• Valid certification under the BWM Convention
• Approval and update of the Ballast Water Management Plan (BWMP)
• Crew familiarity with BWM procedures
• Proper operation of the Ballast Water Management System (BWMS)
• Maintenance of the Ballast Water Record Book (BWRB)
• Sediment management practices
• Valid exemptions, where applicable

If non-conformities are found, actions could range from recorded deficiencies to vessel detention, depending on severity.

The role of certification and documentation

A large part of this CIC is about documentation review and readership - ensuring not just that the paperwork exists, but that it is:

• Up to date with the latest amendments
• Accurately maintained to reflect real onboard practices
• Accessible and understood by the crew, not just filed away

Certificates and plans must be readily available and supported by records that demonstrate ongoing compliance.

How Shipnet helps

With inspection campaigns like this, preparation is key. Shipnet’s solutions are designed to support:

• Certificate Management – Keeping track of expirations, renewals, and updates so nothing is missed.
• Maintenance Tracking – Ensuring systems are serviced and records align with operational requirements.
• Documentation Readership – Making sure that plans and records are not only stored, but actively shared, reviewed, and acknowledged by the crew.

By bringing together certification, maintenance, and documentation into one connected platform, Shipnet helps shipping companies stay ready - not just for this CIC, but for every inspection and audit.

Ready to talk? Get in touch today ...

Danny James

Product Marketing Manager