Home News and Resources News Loss Prevention 25 Sep, 2025 BWM compliance on World Maritime Day and beyond Simon Hodgkinson Global Head of Loss Prevention This year’s World Maritime Day, and its theme of “Our Ocean, Our Obligation, Our Opportunity”, underline the vital role oceans play in sustaining life, livelihoods, and the global economy. Our oceans provide half of the oxygen we breathe, feed billions of people, regulate the climate, and enable over 80% of global trade. Download PDF BWM in focus This day also highlights the deep connection between the global shipping industry and United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. This includes Goal 14: Life Below Water, which focuses on the conservation and sustainable use of ocean resources. Amongst other issues, it covers the need to reduce marine pollution, protect & restore ecosystems, and implement & enforce maritime laws. With marine ecosystem conservation in mind, halting the spread of invasive aquatic species transported in ships’ ballast water tanks is vital, which is why the IMO has developed the Ballast Water Management (BWM) Convention over the years. Complying with these evolving regulations is not only about protecting the environment, but also about minimising financial and reputational risks. The risks of failing to comply with the BWM Convention are especially prevalent now, as Port State Control teams within the Paris and Tokyo MoU regions (Europe, the North Atlantic, and Asia-Pacific) are currently leading a joint Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) on BWM until 30 th November, with the Black Sea and Indian Ocean MoU regions now also joining in. Failure to comply with the regulations can result in significant fines, costly delays entering or leaving ports, and even vessel detention. Minimising evolving risks So, how can you minimise the risks to your crew, ship operations, and vessel? It is important to ensure you and your staff are up to date with the latest developments to the BWM Conven