Tag: EPA VGP

 The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced that it has finalized a rule to modernize Clean Water Act reporting for regulated entities.  The rule will require regulated entities to use existing, available information technology to electronically report data required by the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES). This requirement will apply to reports under the Vessel General Permit (VGP) programs.EPA expects to publish the final rule in the Federal Register in October, 2015. The final rule will be effective 60 days following this publication. EPA estimates that, once the rule is fully implemented, the 46 states and the Virgin Islands Territory that are authorized to administer the NPDES program will collectively save approximately $22.6 million each year as a result of switching from paper to electronic reporting. The final rule will make facility-specific information, such as inspection and enforcement history, pollutant monitoring results, and other data required by NPDES permits accessible to the public through EPA’s website.“Electronic reporting will give the public full transparency into water pollution sources, save millions of dollars, and lead to better water quality in American communities,” said Cynthia Giles, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “This rule will significantly reduce the burden and ...

  Wärtsilä has received another important order for its Ballast Water Management Systems (BWMS). Three new container ships being built for a major European shipping company at the Jinhai Shipyard in China will be fitted with Wärtsilä Aquarius UV BWMS. The order was placed with Wärtsilä in the first quarter of 2015. Wärtsilä will deliver the BWMS equipment to the first vessel at the end of 2015, and for the other two ships during 2016. This latest contract follows the order placed last year from the same company, where Wärtsilä BWMS equipment was installed into three 2100 TEU container ships built in Asia, and which were delivered in December 2014. Each of the three vessels will be fitted with a 500m3 capacity Wärtsilä Aquarius UV BWMS. This system utilises a two-stage approach involving filtration and medium pressure UV disinfection technology. Wärtsilä has already obtained IMO Type Approval and Alternate Management System (AMS) acceptance from the US Coastguard (USCG) for this system, and work to achieve full USCG Type Approval for all products in the Aquarius BWMS range commenced early in 2014. “Ballast water management is an important feature of the overall emphasis on environmentally sustainable shipping. Wärtsilä has always paid ...

  Wärtsilä has developed propulsion systems that are capable of operating with Environmentally Acceptable Lubricants (EALs) and comply with the US Vessel General Permit 2013 (VGP-2013). Wärtsilä is among the first marine propulsion solutions suppliers to achieve this compliance for complete propulsion packages. For vessels operating in US waters, VGP-2013 mandates the use of EALs in all oil-to-sea interfaces unless technically unfeasible. VGP-2013 was issued by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and is applicable to all vessels sailing in US coastal waters. Wärtsilä began work on developing an effective solution in 2013, working together with numerous EAL suppliers. EALs have since been extensively tested with Wärtsilä steerable thrusters at the Wärtsilä Propulsion Test Centre in Tuusula, Finland. This testing has provided Wärtsilä with a deep technical understanding of the EAL impact on marine propulsion systems. To make the company’s propulsion systems EAL compatible, product modifications have been made to various elements, including the seals, hydraulics and oil monitoring systems. Wärtsilä has acquired detailed specification knowledge of adapting full hydraulic systems to make them EAL compatible, as well as comprehensive experience of the impact of EAL compliance on seals. Wärtsilä has also obtained full intellectual property rights on the newly ...

The VGP is a USA Clean Water Act, NPDES permit that authorizes discharges incidental to the normal operation of vessels greater than 79 feet in length. The 2013 Vessel General Permit that replaced the 2008 Vessel General Permit, has incorporated a new requirements for a submission of an electronically annual report by February 28th of 2015 covering activities conducted from December 19, 2013 till December 31, 2014. VGP Annual Report Requirements The Reporting Requirements under the VGP are outlined as follows : Actions required Ship Managers with vessels covered under the 2013 VGP are required to submit the annual report by February 28th of the following year with the first annual report due February 28, 2015 (for activities conducted through December 31, 2014). Source: SQEMARINE  In the outbreak, I was outspoken with you propecia before and after has changed my existence. It has become much more fun, and now I have to run. Just as it is incredible to sit.

Total Lubmarine has received approval from Kemel, a key producer of stern tube seals and other marine sealing technology, for its Bioneptan range of lubricants. Total Lubmarine’s Bioneptan range is composed of high quality synthetic biodegradable lubricants designed specifically for vessels’ stern tubes. Bioneptan products are classed as environmentally acceptable lubricants (EALs) and comply with the US Environmental Protection Agency’s 2013 Vessel General Permit (VGP) regulations for stern tube application. Bioneptan products are now being made available in all shipping hubs. Bioneptan products are approved for use with all types of Kemel seals, of all diameters. They are particularly recommended for the lubrication of sliding rolling bearings within stern tubes. Offering outstanding viscosimetric performances, the lubricants perform in a wide range of operating temperatures, including especially low temperatures, and have outstanding anti-wear and anti-corrosion properties. Total Lubmarine’s Global Marketing Manager Serge Dal Farra said: “Kemel’s comprehensive approval comes after a year of demanding sea trials using the Bioneptan range on-board almost 200 vessels. Total Lubmarine technicians remained in close contact and co-operated strongly with Kemel throughout the trial period. Product engineer Arnaud Amiot also played a key role throughout the approval process.” Source: Total Lubmarine In the outbreak, I was ...

Sampling of Bilgewater from a Bilgewater Treatment System U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a guide to provide vessel owners/operators with tips and tools for meeting the sample collection and analysis monitoring requirements in the 2013 VGP. The document is written primarily to better educate vessel owners/operators who intend to conduct some or all of the sampling themselves rather than contracting these sampling activities to experienced third-party sampling service providers. However, EPA expects many vessel owners/operators will look to sampling service providers and laboratories to perform these activities for them and this document should serve as a resource for them as well. Many NPDES permittees hire full-service “turnkey” operations to sample and analyze their discharges in lieu of building these capabilities in-house. Such service providers are currently available in many ports and EPA is aware that additional entities are considering offering similar services soon. When an owner/operator is not interested or unable to perform these sampling activities, use of a full-service provider is a viable alternative. Vessel Required to Collect and Analyze Samples under the 2013 VGP Any vessel discharging bilgewater to waters subject to the VGP constructed on or after December 19, 2013 and greater than 400 gross tons ...

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it is hosting a webinar on Wednesday, January 7, 2015 from 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm EST to discuss the Annual Report requirements of the 2013 Vessel General Permit (VGP) and to provide an overview of how to use EPA’s electronic tool for preparing and submitting those annual reports. This webinar will describe:- Who is required to submit annual reports under the 2013 VGP,- How to register or update registration to use the new annual reporting module of EPA’selectronic reporting system (eNOI),- What information is required to be submitted in the annual report,- How to submit single or multiple (i.e., batch) annual reports, and- Where to go for help with submitting these reports. Time will be allotted during the webinar for EPA to respond to questions posed by participants. To participate in this webinar, please go to https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/616753794 to register in advance. There is no charge to register or participate. If you cannot participate, a recording of the webinar will be accessible from VGP website at:http://water.epa.gov/polwaste/npdes/vessels/Vessel-General-Permit.cfm  In the origin, I was frank with you propecia before and after has changed my subsistence. It has become much more fun, and now I have to run. Just as it ...

Shell has launched its new range of Environmentally Acceptable Lubricants (EALs), including Shell Naturelle S4 Stern Tube Fluid 100. The Shell Naturelle range of products enables ships entering US waters to comply with the revised 2013 Vessel General Permit (VGP).   Shell Naturelle S4 Stern Tube Fluid 100 is made with fully saturated ester base oil, which offers the best resistance to hydrolysis (breakdown by water) and oxidation (oil ageing). It is also a non-emulsifying fluid, which allows ship operators to easily drain any water from the stern tube system, preventing hydrolysis and biodegradation of the oil within the equipment. What sets Shell Naturelle S4 Stern Tube Fluid 100 apart from the competition is the wide range of approvals it has received from stern tube original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), like Aegir-Marine, Blohm & Voss (SKF), Kemel and Wärtsillä Propulsion. In addition, Shell has also launched its VGP-compliant range of gear oils, hydraulic oils, wire rope lubricant and greases, almost all of which has received EU Eco Label certification and a host of approvals from top original equipment OEMs. “We are delighted to introduce our new Shell Naturelle range of EALs and give our customers the peace of mind that they ...

experts on marine emissions gathered for an ABB-led discussion at the SMM in Hamburg and agreed that regulations will play a role in helping ports improve their air quality

Master pleads guilty to Violating the Clean Water Act by engaging in unauthorized dredging in navigable waters of the US by means of prop washishing