Section 13-76-17 - Ballast water exchange requirements(a) Qualifying vessels that require ballast water exchanges shall conduct such exchanges in mid-ocean waters. Unless exempted by section 13-76-14(c), or as may be otherwise provided by law, it is unlawful for a master to conduct a ballast water exchange within state marine waters while holding ballast water obtained from an area less than 200 nautical miles from any coast.(b) All such exchanges shall be by flow through exchange, empty/refill exchange, or other exchange methodology recommended or required by the USCG or other approving authority.(c) The master is responsible for the safety of the vessel, its crew, and its passengers and is not required to conduct a ballast water management practice, including exchange, if the master determines that the practice would threaten the safety of the vessel, its crew, or its passengers because of adverse weather, vessel design limitations, equipment failure, or any other extraordinary conditions. Should the master make such a determination, the master shall take all feasible measures, based on the best available technologies economically achievable, that do not compromise the safety of the vessel, its crew, and its passengers, to minimize the discharge of ballast water containing non-indigenous aquatic species into state marine waters or waters that may impact state marine waters. Such discharge shall be subject to the provisions of section 13-76-18.(d) Nothing in this subchapter relieves the master of the responsibility for ensuring the safety and stability of the vessel or the safety of the crew and passengers, or any other responsibility.[Eff OCT 12 2007] (Auth: HRS § 187A-32) (Imp: HRS § 187A-32)