With effect from November 1, 2009, all ships, regardless of flag, will be required to exchange, treat or deliver to a shore reception facility all ballast water taken up outside the Regional Organisation for the Protection of the Marine Environment (ROPME) Sea Area*. This comprises the states of Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Vessels arriving from outside the ROPME Sea Area are to exchange ballast water in waters at least 200 metres deep and 200 nautical miles from the nearest land. If this is not possible for safety reasons, ballast may be exchanged in areas within the 200 nautical mile limit, as long as such exchanges are more than 50 miles from the nearest land and in waters at least 200 metres deep.

If a ship cannot exchange ballast in the specified depths or at the required distance from land, it will be required to provide the respective port authority with the reason why exchange cannot be achieved. Further ballast water management measures may also be required.
Ballast which has been treated with a ballast water treatment system approved in accordance with IMO standards need not be exchanged.
Ships will be required to have on board an approved ballast water management plan in accordance with the IMO standards. Ships should also have and maintain a ballast water record book.

* The ROPME Sea Area (RSA) is defined as extending between the following geographic latitudes and longitudes, respectively: 16°39'N, 53°3'30''E; 16°00'N, 53°25'E; 17°00'N, 56°30'E; 20°30'N, 60°00'E; 25°04'N, 61°25'E.
HELP US TO HELP YOU – if you are an owner or operator and require further assistance, please get in touch with your local Lloyd’s Register Group office at the earliest opportunity and we will be happy to assist.

Further information
Contact: Graham Greensmith
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Infomarine On-Line Technical Library

File	Description	File size
Arabian Gulf area ballast water management regulations.pdf	With effect from November 1, 2009, all ships, regardless of flag, will be required to exchange, treat or deliver to a shore reception facility all ballast water taken up outside the Regional Organisation for the Protection of the Marine Environment.	123 Kb