33 CFR 151.2070: Ballast water recordkeeping requirements for vessels
Last reviewed: October 14, 2026
This section requires vessels bound for a port or place in the United States to keep written or digital ballast water records. The records include the information required by § 151.2060 and sediment discharge details. A signed copy must stay onboard for 2 years.
Applies toThe master, owner, operator, agent, or person in charge of a vessel bound for a port or place in the United States, unless specifically exempted by § 151.2015 of this subpart.
What it says
The master, owner, operator, agent, or person in charge of a vessel bound for a United States port or place must ensure written or digital records are maintained, unless the vessel is specifically exempted by § 151.2015 of this subpart. The records must include the information required by § 151.2060 and the sediment information in paragraph (a)(1).
33 CFR 151.2070(a)“must ensure the maintenance of written or digital records that include the information required to be reported by § 151.2060 of this subpart”
If sediment was discharged within the jurisdiction of the United States, the records must include the name and location of the facility where sediment disposal took place.
33 CFR 151.2070(a)(1)“If sediment was discharged within the jurisdiction of the United States, include the name and location of the facility where sediment disposal took place.”
The records must include a certification with the printed name, title, and signature of the master, owner, operator, agent, person in charge, or responsible officer. It attests that the information is accurate and that the activities followed the ballast water management plan required by § 151.2050(g).
33 CFR 151.2070(a)(2)“printed name, title, and signature attesting to the accuracy of the information provided and that the activities were in accordance with the ballast water management plan required by § 151.2050(g)”
If exceptional circumstances required deviation from the plan, the details of the need for deviation and the associated actions must be explained.
33 CFR 151.2070(a)(2)“If exceptional circumstances required deviation from the plan, the details surrounding the need for deviation and associated actions must be explained.”
The person in charge of a vessel subject to this section must retain a signed copy of this information onboard the vessel for 2 years.
33 CFR 151.2070(b)“must retain a signed copy of this information onboard the vessel for 2 years.”
A copy of the reporting form completed under § 151.2060 may meet the recordkeeping requirements, together with a record of the sediment information in paragraph (a)(1). Records may be stored on digital media but must be readily viewable by the Coast Guard during an inspection.
33 CFR 151.2070(c)“These records may be stored on digital media but must be readily viewable by the Coast Guard during an inspection.”
The master, owner, operator, agent, or person in charge of a vessel subject to this section must retain the monitoring records required in 46 CFR 162.060-20(b) for 2 years.
33 CFR 151.2070(d)“must retain the monitoring records required in 46 CFR 162.060-20(b) for 2 years.”
Common questions
How long must ballast water records be kept onboard?
A signed copy of the information must be kept onboard the vessel for 2 years.
“must retain a signed copy of this information onboard the vessel for 2 years.”
Can ballast water records be kept digitally?
Yes. Records may be stored on digital media but must be readily viewable by the Coast Guard during an inspection.
“These records may be stored on digital media but must be readily viewable by the Coast Guard during an inspection.”
Can I satisfy the signature requirement electronically?
Yes. The signature requirement may be satisfied by affirming the certification portion of the electronic ballast water report.
“The signature requirement may be satisfied by affirming the certification portion of the electronic ballast water report.”
The text of 33 CFR 151.2070
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of April 16, 2026 · Read it on eCFR
Recordkeeping requirements
(a) The master, owner, operator, agent, or person in charge of a vessel bound for a port or place in the United States, unless specifically exempted by § 151.2015 of this subpart, must ensure the maintenance of written or digital records that include the information required to be reported by § 151.2060 of this subpart and the sediment information in paragraph (a)(1) of this section.
(1) Discharge of sediment. If sediment was discharged within the jurisdiction of the United States, include the name and location of the facility where sediment disposal took place.
(2) Certification of accurate information. Include the master, owner, operator, agent, person in charge, or responsible officer's printed name, title, and signature attesting to the accuracy of the information provided and that the activities were in accordance with the ballast water management plan required by § 151.2050(g). If exceptional circumstances required deviation from the plan, the details surrounding the need for deviation and associated actions must be explained. The signature requirement may be satisfied by affirming the certification portion of the electronic ballast water report.
(b) The master, owner, operator, agent, or person in charge of a vessel subject to this section must retain a signed copy of this information onboard the vessel for 2 years.
(c) The recordkeeping requirements in this section may be met by maintaining a copy of the reporting form completed pursuant to § 151.2060 of this subpart, in addition to maintaining a record of the sediment information in paragraph (a)(1) of this section. These records may be stored on digital media but must be readily viewable by the Coast Guard during an inspection.
(d) The master, owner, operator, agent, or person in charge of a vessel subject to this section must retain the monitoring records required in 46 CFR 162.060-20(b) for 2 years. These records may be stored on digital media but must be readily viewable by the Coast Guard during an inspection.
Sections it refers to
The plain-English explanation on this page was written with AI from the regulation text above and checked automatically before publishing: every quote appears in the text, every number comes from it, and a second model confirmed each statement adds nothing the text doesn't say. Regulation text current as of April 16, 2026. The regulation text governs. RegKnot is not affiliated with the U.S. Coast Guard.