Ballast water management, explained
Analysis of BWMS rules, commissioning testing, and port state control from two decades in the industry. Independent, with zero systems sold.
The tightening circle of global port state control
The signals point to a clear and unforgiving trajectory: the rise in global vessel detentions due to environmental non-compliance are directly due to the heightened inspection requirements and mandatory, verified reporting thresholds.
Port State Control is ending the era of passive ballast compliance
Port State Control inspections are about to become significantly more demanding for vessel operators accustomed to passive compliance.
Port State Control is getting real
Inspectors are no longer just checking your paperwork to see if the dates match. The latest annual report from the Paris MoU reveals that the overall ship detention rate rose to 4.18% in 2025, up from 4.03% in 2024 and 3.81% in 2023. If you operate commercial tonnage, that upward trend should make you very nervous.
Your biofouling record book is about to become a legal liability
This post is bound to spark more debate than anything else I have published, because it asks you to stop looking at the high-level, net-zero carbon headlines and start looking at the quiet, binding machinery grinding away in the committee rooms.