Ballast water record book

The Ballast Water Record Book is the mandatory log of every ballast water operation on a ship subject to the BWM Convention, required by Regulation B-2. The responsible officer records each uptake, circulation or treatment, and discharge of ballast water, plus accidental or exceptional discharges and disposal of sediment, with date, ship position, tank, and volume, each entry signed. Entries are kept on board for at least two years and then with the company for three more. Port state control reads it against the Ballast Water Management Plan and the D-1 or D-2 standard, and false or missing entries are a detention trigger.