Shipping industry obligations
Ship owners and Masters
Ship Masters must not cause or permit the discharge of high-risk domestic ballast water into Victorian state waters.
Ship owners and Masters must manage their domestic ballast water in accordance with the Waste Management Policy (Ships’ Ballast Water), the Environment Protection (Ships’ Ballast Water) Regulations, and the Protocol for Environmental Management – Domestic Ballast Water Management in Victorian State Waters.
All ship owners and Masters must be aware of their ballast water responsibilities prior to entering Victorian state waters. It is of paramount importance that the management of domestic ballast water is undertaken in a manner that does not compromise the safety of the ship and its crew.
The Flowchart - Domestic Ballast Water Management Steps 
(PDF 32KB) summarises the key steps that ships must take in order to meet their ballast water obligations and comply with the Policy.
All ships that intend to visit a Victorian port must send EPA a Victorian Ballast Water Report Form. (PDF 360KB) This report form requires the Master of the ship to provide details about the intention to discharge domestic ballast water, ballast water treatment or exchange and risk assessment results. A copy of this form is also provided in the PEM (see appendix 1). Ships are required to exchange their ballast water a minimum of 12 nautical miles off the Australian coastline.
If any ship is carrying domestic ballast water it must also complete the Ballast Water Log. (PDF 123KB) This log must be completed even if the ship does not intend to discharge the domestic ballast water. A copy of this log is also provided in the PEM (see appendix 2).
The Victorian Ballast Water Report Form and the Ballast Water Log should be submitted to EPA as soon as possible, preferably 24 hours prior to the ship entering Victorian state waters.
If ships’ Masters or agents have any difficulties in complying with the domestic ballast water management arrangements they should contact EPA ballast water officers as soon as possible to discuss management options.
No domestic ballast water discharge is permitted in Victorian waters unless approval has been granted from EPA in writing. Submission of forms to EPA prior to entering Victorian waters will avoid any unnecessary delays.
Ports
Owners, operators and managers of Victorian ports play an important support role in implementing the Policy (PDF 159KB). Ports do this by disseminating information about the Policy and domestic ballast water management obligations to port users, providing advice to EPA regarding expected shipping arrivals and incorporating domestic ballast water management arrangements into port environment management plans.