On 31 July 2023, the current ballast water management reporting form will expire. However, beginning 1 August 2023, and until such time as the Coast Guard provides notice of a new form, vessel owner/operators should continue to use the existing form (dated 31 July 2023). Updates regarding the reporting form will be made available on the Coast Guard’s Maritime Commons public information portal, https://www.news.uscg.mil/maritime-commons/
Announcements
Important information on how to submit a Ballast Water Management Form properly
The NBIC has seen an increased number of PDF Ballast Water Management Reporting forms (BWMR) that are corrupted and unable to be opened, thus requiring rejection. To ensure that your submission is processed, 1) please download a new BWMR from the NBIC, 2) make sure to download it first to your computer instead of opening in your browser, and 3) use only Adobe Acrobat software to complete your BWMR. No other PDF software besides Adobe Acrobat software will work for successful form submission. Adobe Acrobat Reader can be downloaded for free from https://get.adobe.com/reader/
Alternatively, create an account and use the NBIC online web application form as a submission portal. Submission via the web application form requires an internet connection, but allows access to previous report history, is always up to date, and gives instant confirmation that a BWMR has been received by the NBIC. Information on the NBIC web application form can be found at https://nbic.si.edu/submit/onlineform/. Follow the instructions listed on that page to create an account or log into https://invasions.si.edu/ballastwater/auth/login.
2023 Report to Congress on Commercial Vessel Ballast Water Management available for download
The 2023 Report to Congress on Commercial Vessel Ballast Water Management authored by the National Ballast Information Clearinghouse and US Coast Guard is now available for download.
The 2018 Vessel Incidental Discharge Act (VIDA) requires an annual report on the effectiveness of national ballast water management (BWM) requirements. This report provides analyses of (1) the patterns of ballast water (BW) delivery and management; (2) Coast Guard’s compliance and enforcement actions regarding BWM regulations; and (3) patterns of biological invasions by marine and estuarine aquatic nuisance species (ANS). It covers the two-year period from January 2020 through December 2021 to demonstrate the effectiveness of the Coast Guard’s statutorily mandated BWM regulatory program and validates that enforcement efforts continue to increase BWM and reduce the risk of introducing ANS into U.S. waters.
Citation and DOI link for download:
National Ballast Information Clearinghouse and United States Coast Guard. 2023. Commercial Vessel Ballast Water Management (2020-2021): Report to Congress July 7, 2023. Washington, D.C.: United States Department of Homeland Security. https://doi.org/10.5479/10088/117294.
NBIC website to undergo brief maintenance period Monday August 28th
The NBIC website will undergo a brief maintenance period Monday morning August 28th and may not be available for a short period of time. Ballast Water Report Form downloads, submissions, and processing will be unaffected by this maintenance, and ships and ship agents should continue to submit forms to the NBIC as usual.
Marine Invasions Research Laboratory hiring Biological Technician positions
These positions are now closed, thank you.
The Marine Invasions Research Laboratory is in search of 3 new trust funded Biological Technicians to help out with a variety of ongoing research projects. These are full time, 40 hours per week positions. These positions are:
- Marine Invasion Ecology biological technician
- Zooplankton Analyst biological technician
- Larval Biology biological technician
This position with the Marine Invasions Research Laboratory will be based at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) in Edgewater, Maryland. SERC is a research center of the Smithsonian Institution, located on the western shore of Chesapeake Bay, approximately 10 miles south of Annapolis, 35 miles west of Washington D.C., and 35 miles south of Baltimore. The 2,650-acre SERC campus contains a laboratory and office complex, as well as educational and waterfront facilities.
Applications should include a cover letter that clearly describes your work experience, working independently as well as a member of a team, and training/education as these relate to the position. A current resume and an unofficial copy of your college transcript should also be included. Applications should be submitted by email to Laura Falsone (FalsoneL@si.edu), with Biological Technician – Marine Larval Biology (SERC) as the subject line.
Application Deadline is August 31st 2023.
Please see Job Opportunities at SERC for more details on how to apply.
Commercial Vessel Ballast Water Management 2022 Report to Congress Now Available For Download
The 2022 Report to Congress on Commercial Vessel Ballast Water Management authored by the National Ballast Information Clearinghouse and US Coast Guard is now available for download. This report describes the status and trends of ballast water management and detection rates of ballast water mediated introductions. It combines two reporting periods, 2018-2019 and 2020-2021 as called for by the Vessel Incidental Discharge Act (VIDA).
Citation and DOI link for download:
National Ballast Information Clearinghouse and United States Coast Guard. 2022. Commercial Vessel Ballast Water Management: Report to Congress, September 30, 2022. Washington, D.C.: United States Department of Homeland Security. https://doi.org/10.5479/10088/115375