Consultation on proposed ballast water regulations 2026

This consultation seeks your views on the draft of The Merchant Shipping (Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments) (Amendment) Regulations 2026  (“the amending Regulations”). This instrument amends The Merchant Shipping (Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments) Regulations 2022 (“the 2022 Regulations”) and introduces the need to revise associated guidance. The amending Regulations will bring UK legislation up to date by implementing the amendments to the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments, 2004 (“the BWM Convention”) made by International Maritime Organization Resolution MEPC.383(81) which was adopted on 22 March 2024 and came into force on 1 October 2025.

The amending Regulations are designed to keep United Kingdom domestic law fully up to date with the United Kingdom’s international maritime obligations. The main objectives of the amending Regulations are to implement an amendment to the Convention relating to the use of electronic record books and to clarify the application provision of the 2022 Regulations.

The amending Regulations will also amend the application of the 2022 Regulations to provide clarity regarding exceptions from the BWM Convention for ships operating not only in United Kingdom territorial or controlled waters but also ships operating in the territorial or controlled waters of the Crown Dependencies (e.g. the Isle of Man) and British Overseas Territories.