Ballast water Management - Update August 2014

In August 2014, the California State Lands Commission ("CSL") issued the attached letter to clarify its interpretation of existing ballast water requirements under the California's Marine Invasive Species Act ("MISA"). In its letter, California recognizes that in certain limited circumstances under federal law a vessel may not be required to deviate or incur delay in order to conduct a ballast water exchange. However, CSL explains that MISA does not provide for any exemption based on deviation or voyage delay.

CSL has also updated its map to more correctly depict the 200 nm boundary for the US West Coast, including those waters extending south of California.