Vancouver – Ballast Water Management Regulations In Force

New regulations in force since 30 April 2004 place the following obligations on vessels calling at the Port of Vancouver:

1. Vessels must have on board a ballast water management plan.

2. Vessels intending to discharge ballast water within port limits must carry out mid-ocean ballast water exchange.

The mid-ocean exchange requirement can be waived by the habour master where:

• safety considerations make it impracticable
• the vessel has an approved ballast water treatment method