The five-year AMS window is closing for many vessels and owners whose systems are awaiting USCG Type Approval should not miss an opportunity to seek an extension, writes William Burroughs, ABS. The end of US Coast Guard’s Alternate Management System program for ballast water discharges means owners whose systems are not USCG Type Approved should seek an extension or risk losing the ability to trade in US waters.

Analysis from classification society ABS suggests that vessels up to 15 years of age are likely to be the oldest to install a ballast water management system (BWMS); Thus, William H Burroughs, Senior Principal Engineer, ABS Advisory Services, adds that owners of ships aged 16-20 years and 21 years and above more likely to opt for scrapping.