The West of England P&I Club published an update regarding the situation in the Ukraine about access to vessels for ecological inspectors to check certification and take samples of segregated ballast water for analysis, and the imposition of fines where it is considered that contaminated ballast water has been discharged.
In an update, the Club said that the latest change in the legislation allows ecological inspectors to board vessels and take ballast samples for analysis. Recently, there have been several cases where Masters have obstructed the inspectors, as they did not know the latest regulatory change, leading the inspectors becoming aggressive and imposing large fines.
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As a result, Masters are advised to allow ecological inspectors access to their vessel to take ballast samples. Moreover, it should be ensured that samples of ballast water as would be discharged overboard are taken by the inspectors, with the location from where these are taken. These may be a tank or pipeline, dependent on the ballast water management system and regime in use on board.
Finally, when a fine is imposed on a vessel, operators are advised to pay the fine and file a counter claim after the departure of the vessel.
