Holland & Knight LLP, law firm in Washington D.C, USA, has provided us with the following information.

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The U.S. Coast Guard promulgated its regulation establishing mandatory ballast water management practices for all vessels equipped with ballast water tanks bound for ports or places within the United States or entering U.S. waters. Basically, if the vessel took on ballast water in a location less than 200 miles from any shore other than the U.S. or Canadian EEZ, then it must undertake a high seas ballast water exchange or utilize an alternative ballast water management method that has been approved by the U.S. Coast Guard. The vessel must also have a written ballast water management plan that meets IMO guidelines. The regulation comes into effect on September 27, 2004. 69 Fed. Reg. 44952.

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For further information please contact Dennis L. Bryant at 202-828-1865 (dennis.bryant@hklaw.com)

* Update
Please find attached USCG Marine Safety Bulletin Volume 4, Issue 32, August 2004 entitled “Coast Guard Establishes Mandatory Ballast Water Management Practices for Operations in U.S. Waters.”
The Bulletin summarizes the USCG’s final rule concerning the U.S. Mandatory Ballast Water Management Program.

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