(a) Except as provided in (b) of this section, a person may not cause or permit the discharge of ballast water from a cargo tank of a tank vessel into the waters of the state. A tank vessel may not take on petroleum or a petroleum product or by-product as cargo unless it arrives in ports in the state without having discharged ballast from cargo tanks into the waters of the state and the master of the vessel certifies that fact on forms provided by the department.
(b) The master of a tank vessel may discharge ballast water from a cargo tank of a tank vessel if it is necessary for the safety of the tank vessel and no alternative action is feasible to ensure the safety of the tank vessel.