Tag: USCG Type Approval

The US Coast Guard recently published a letter to the Coast Guard-accepted independent laboratories (ILs), providing guidance for evaluating manufacturer-identified operational limitations during type approval testing of ballast water management systems (BWMS).

Mr Anders Lindmark, Head of PureBallast, BU Marine Separation and Heat Transfer Equipment, Alfa Laval emphasizes on the importance of planning well before installation of a BWTS considering vessel’s needs. Mr. Lindmark advises operators to plan before and focus on sufficient skilled engineering expertise.

Irish Ardmore Shipping has encountered a series of operational problems on the BWTS that were installed on ten of its vessels in newbuild shipyards. Now the company has ordered the Norwegian BWT manufacturer Optimarin to replace these with 36 new systems across 18 chemical and product tankers.

Wartsila Water Systems became the 10th manufacturer to obtain a BWMS Type Approval Certificate by the US Coast Guard Marine Safety Center. After a detailed review of the manufacturer’s type approval application, the MSC determined the system met the requirements of 46 CFR 162.060.

Wärtsilä announced that its Aquarius UV Ballast Water Management System has successfully completed all testing procedures required for US Coastguard type approval compliance. The documentation for full USCG type approval is being finalised for submission and awaits the final input from DNV-GL.

The US Coast Guard Marine Safety Center issued the ninth Coast Guard Ballast Water Management System type approval certificate to BIO-UV Group, for its BIO-SEA B BWMS. So far, BIO-UV Group, Samsung Heavy Industries, Techcross, Optimarin, Alfa Laval, TeamTec Ocean Saver, Sunrui, Ecochlor and Erma First have won the USCG type approval.

The US Coast Guard Marine Safety Center issued the eighth Ballast Water Management System Type Approval Certificate to Samsung Heavy Industries, for its Purimar BWMS. So far, Techcross (Republic of Korea), Optimarin (Norway), Alfa Laval (Sweden), TeamTec Ocean Saver (Norway), Sunrui (China), Ecochlor (USA) and Erma First (Greece) have won the USCG type approval.

The US Coast Guard Marine Safety Center issued the seventh Ballast Water Management System Type Approval Certificate to Techcross, for its Electro-Cleen BWMS. So far, Techcross (Republic of Korea), Optimarin (Norway), Alfa Laval (Sweden), TeamTec Ocean Saver (Norway), Sunrui (China), Ecochlor (USA) and Erma First (Greece) have won the USCG type approval.

USCG announced that the Marine Safety Center received its 14th application for Ballast Water Management System type approval for the OceanGuard BWMS manufactured by Headway Technology. On 9 April, the USCG received its 13th application for the Aquarius EC system, manufactured by Wärtsilä Water Systems.

Mr. Mark Hadfield, CEO, Flow Water Technologies, addressed the subject of ballast water treatment which is one of those subjects that whenever it is brought up, ship operators tend to avoid, he commented. This is due to the enormous space required for the installation of a BWMS and the many regulations concerning its application.