The US Coast Guard provided recommended measures to mitigate the potential factors that some indications suggest may be contributing to the spread of Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD) throughout the Caribbean. One such factor may be the potential transfer of pathogens in ballast water.
During the 2019 SAFETY4SEA Cyprus Conference, Mr. Konstantinos Dimopoulos, International Sales Manager, ERMA FIRST, shared his experience on BWTS selection procedure, advising how a vessel operator will select the most favorable system according to the vessel type. Mr. Dimopoulos noted that operations with problems in 2017 were up to approximately 30% while it almost doubled last year.
Identifying organisms and microbes in ballast water, as well as monitoring port marine life where ballast water may be released, are key for countries preparing to enforce IMO’s Ballast Water Management Convention. A workshop in Batumi, Georgia, from 3 to 5 July provided participants from nine countries with theoretical and practical training in compliance, monitoring and enforcement of the Convention.
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.
During his presentation at GREEN4SEA Conference, Mr. Peter Sahlén, R&D Manager, PureBallast, Alfa Laval, talked about the route to IMO G8 revised guidelines (2016) and USCG type approval. Providing a recap of how the new robust 2016 G8 testing guidelines were adopted, he cited what are the new conditions and informed about the IMO revised G8 Certificate.
