Tag: BWTS

In order to prevent harmful aquatic organisms and pathogens that get into ships' ballast water, cause pollution and damage to the ecological environment and human health, China officially acceded the International Convention on the Control and Management of Ballast Water and Sediments on Ships, 2004 in 2018. To assist ship owners and operators understand and comply with this new regulation, Huatai has prepared a circular to introduce the main contents of the requirements.

Wärtsilä's Aquarius UV Ballast Water Management System is on demand by global shipping operators. The system will enable the vessels to be in line with the Ballast Water Management Convention regulations that entered into force in September 2017, concerning all new-builds vessels. The company's BWTS has been presented with 13 systems, the orders for which were all booked in quarter four 2018.

An InvaSave 300 Mobile Ballast Water Treatment System was transported from the Netherlands to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria to be used for a demonstration programme as part of the 'Atlantic Blue Port Services' project, made possible by the INTERREG Atlantic Area Programme, funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

Transport Malta's MSIU issued an investigation report into a serious incident concerning the Maltese-registered capsize bulk carrier 'Capri' that arrived at Dampier anchorage, Australia on 22 December 2017, where the ballast system's valves were damaged, causing approximately 1.100 tonnes of sea water flooding the engine room

The quality of a BWTS project is related to its cost: neither a low nor a high final bill but the successful commissioning and certification of a BWTS, finished at the pre-estimated date and at the pre-estimated cost,  make a quality project. As such, Argo Navis shares experience feedback from BWTS retrofits, citing the key steps for operators in order to reduce costs without affecting the quality.

Mr. Leif Erik Caspersen, Director International Sales, ERMA FIRST, provides recommendations on how to select a suitable BWTS retrofitting. A ballast water treatment, he said, is much complicated as it is especially designed for each vessel. Mr. Caspersen advised that operators should select the systems with the most suitable operation options for their vessels.

The US Coast Guard Marine Safety Centre issued the 14th Coast Guard Ballast Water Management System type approval certificate to Panasia Co., Ltd., for its GloEn-Patrol BWMS. It also received the 22nd application from Semb-Eco LUV U1 Ballast Water Management System manufactured by Semb-Eco Pte, Ltd. 

On December 4, 2018, US President Trump signed the USCG Authorization Act, S. 140, a new bill which includes measures for USCG operations while incorporates the Vessel Incidental Discharge Act. Namely, with this act, USCG is required to draft a policy letter for testing BWMS within 180 days, followed by a 90 day comment period. Totally, the USCG has 360 days after the date of enactment of the Act to come up with a final policy. What is more, this bill has wide implications on US EPA VGP, due in March 2019.

President Trump signed on December 4 the law S. 140, the “Frank LoBiondo Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018”. This law authorizes appropriations for the USCG and for the Federal Maritime Commission through Fiscal Year 2019, reauthorizes the Department of Commerce’s hydrographic services program administered by NOAA through Fiscal Year 2023, and establishes uniform standards for the management of vessel discharge.

BIMCO issued its latest digital bulletin focusing on the challenges that have risen around compliance with ballast water regulations. The association reminds that operators should take measures to comply as soon as possible, despite the fact that the focus is on the 2020 sulphur cap.