USCG New Ballast Water Reporting Regulations

Published Jul 1, 2004 12:01 AM by The Maritime Executive

In a final rule published in the Federal Register on June 14, 2004, the Coast Guard, under the authority of the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act and the National Invasive Species Act, established penalty provisions for vessels equipped with ballast water tanks which are bound for ports or places within the United States that fail to submit a ballast water management (BWM) reporting form.

Penalty provisions are also established for vessels bound for the Great Lakes or portions of the Hudson River that violate the mandatory ballast water management requirements, and these regulations widen the reporting and recordkeeping requirements of vessels subject to the regulations.

http://www.uscg.mil/news/Headquarters/Fact%20Sheet_penalties.doc