The total ocean area of the world is approximately 360,000,000 km², accounting for 71% of Earth's surface. As the largest ecosystem of the earth, it contains extremely rich resources and is a valuable asset for human sustainable development. Since the twenty-first Century, with the sweeping of globalization and the upgrading of industrialization, all kinds of global marine problems are increasing and becoming more and more serious.The economic, environmental, health and safety problems caused by the harmful aquatic organisms and pathogens carried by the ballast water from ships are being paid more and more attention by the International Organizations and countries.In this regard, in February 2004, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) adopted (hereinafter referred to as BWM Convention). In order to ensure global and uniform application of the relevant requirements of the Convention, a series of guidelines have been developed by IMO. This paper makes an in-depth analysis of the legislative development of the BWM Convention, covering the structure and content, development history, and the characteristics aspects etc. Meanwhile, it combines the relevant conventions and guidelines to predict the development of the future IMO legislation, so as to provide intellectual reference for the full implementation of the BWM Convention after China's formal accession to the Convention.