Aquatic invasive species

Monitoring of regulations

2.1 Periodically inspect vessels’ hulls including niche areas, such as sea chests, propeller thrusters, keels, rudders, and dry dock support strips.

2.2 If needed, remove biofouling organisms from the hull, propellers, stern tube, sea chests, and other wetted portions of a vessel.

Note: Cleaning with capture is suggested if non-local macrofouling is present. 

2.3 For each vessel, keep a record book on details of all inspections and biofouling management measures undertaken on the ship going back to the last drydock or delivery, whichever is more recent.

Domestic ship owners operating in the St. Lawrence and the Great Lakes:

2.4 If feasible and safe, conduct salt water ballast exchange during coastal trades prior to re-entering the lakes.

Note: Coastal trade is defined as “Movement of cargo and passengers between inland waterways and coastal ports, and within EEZ waters”.

3.1 Maintain a Biofouling Management plan for each vessel which includes all the best practices required to achieve Level 2.

3.2 Support scientific research on ballast water or biofouling by providing access to ships for sampling by governmental and research groups or by participating on an expert working group.

Note: It is not necessary to actively participate in the research program in order to fulfill this criterion.

3.3 Complete and maintain an annual inventory to evaluate the amount of ballast water taken and discharged by the company's ships by origin/destination.

Note: See Annex 1-A.

OR as an alternative to 3.3 for vessels with a ballast water management system:

3.4 Produce an internal annual log showing any cases of ballast water management system malfunctioning. For such cases include root cause(s) and preventive action(s) taken.

Fulfill one of the following 2 criteria:

4.1 Actively participate in research and development on reducing the risk of AIS introduction and spread associated with ballast water operations and discharges, for example – partner with an academic institution, technology developer, innovation accelerator, or government agency.

OR

4.2 Actively participate in research and development on reducing the risk of AIS via biofouling, for example - coatings, autonomous underwater cleaning, or underwater cleaning capture technologies.

Note: Active participation is defined as the provision of support by the company, whether through financial means, human resources or equipment and can include an experimental shipboard trial.

Optional for 2023:
4.3 Ensure all in-water cleaning activities are conducted in accordance with Canada’s Voluntary Guidance for Relevant Authorities on In-Water Cleaning of Vessels.

Fulfill one of the following 2 criteria:

5.1 Use a ballast water management system (BWMS) on one or several of the company's vessels. And, for each installed and in-use BWMS, adopt contingency measures, as per MEPC 71/WP.9 Annex 4. For each new BWMS installation, conduct a ballast water management system commissioning test for biological efficacy using detailed analysis methods. Use the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) Circular 70 (BWM.2/Circ.70/Rev.1) as the basis for sampling and analysis.

OR

For a vessel that does not already require a type-approved BWMS:

5.2 Use an experimental BWMS for research and development (R&D) purposes in partnership with an academic institution, technology developer, innovation accelerator, or government agency.

AND fulfill one of the following 2 criteria:

5.3 Conduct annual compliance self-monitoring of ballast water discharge for each installed BWMS that is not for R&D purposes.

OR

5.4 Participate in a longitudinal biofouling or ballast water study, with onboard data collection over a minimum period of two operating seasons. Studies must be in collaboration with a formal research group and can include the sampling of biofouling, testing the application of in-development anti-fouling systems, marine growth prevention systems, grooming technologies, or in-water cleaning technologies.

Note: To fulfill this criterion for the evaluation of 2023 operations, participants must have started the study but not necessarily collected data over two operating seasons.