The United States is not party to the BWM Convention and its ballast water regulations, affecting ships that only discharge ballast in US waters, have been fully in effect since 1st January 2016. The Vessel Incidental Discharge Act (VIDA) 2018 was enacted in
Ballast Water Management Manual
December 2018 to bring ballast water legislation in the US under one regulatory umbrella. The revised regulations will not be enforceable until at least December 2022 and the current US ballast water regulations are in force and full effect until that time.
The background for this publication is the new regulations relating to ballast water that have changed dramatically in recent years and the operational aspect of the running of a ship has undergone a major overhaul.
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Whether or not the ship is at sea, ballast water is carried on all seagoing vessels big or small to maintain acceptable stability conditions. A good ballast water management plan is imperative for all types of ships.
While ballast water remains indispensable for safe, secure and effectual shipping operations, it has been scientifically researched and proven by expert authorities that ballast water is a significant path for the transfer of harmful and equally damaging aquatic organisms and other pathogens that pose serious ecological, economic and health problems and if introduced into the sea including estuaries, or into fresh water courses, may create hazards to the environment, human health, property or resources, impair biological diversity or interfere with other legitimate uses of such areas.
The accountable authorities, which includes scientists, ship owners and operators as well as flag States, have determined that the method of ballast water exchange provides an effective means, to prevent the unintended transfer of these harmful marine organisms.
1. Conduct ballast water exchange at least 200 nautical miles from the nearest land and in the water of at least 200 meters in depth.2. When a ship cannot meet the above criteria due to reasons such as short voyage duration or enclosed waters, the exchange is to be conducted as far from the nearest land as possible, but at least 50 nautical miles from the nearest land and in a water depth of at least 200 meters.
A Port State, in consultation with adjacent or other States, may designate areas where ballast water exchange may be conducted if there are locations of operation where the distance from nearest land and water depth do not meet the above requirements.
1. Sequential method: In this process, the ballast water tank is first emptied and then refilled with replacement ballast water to achieve at least a 95 per cent volumetric exchange. All of the ballast water in each tank should be discharged until suction of the pumps is lost and stripping pumps or eductors should be used if possible, to avoid a situation where organisms are left in the bottom of the tank, the tank is then refilled with new water. Emptying of tanks can be done individually or in pairs.
2. Flow-through method: The flow-through method is a process by which replacement ballast water is pumped into a ballast tank intended for the carriage of ballast water, allowing water to flow through overflow or other arrangements in order to achieve at least 95 per cent volumetric exchange of ballast water. Pumping through three times the volume of each ballast water tank shall be considered to meet the standard D-1.
3. Dilution method: The dilution method is a process by which replacement ballast water is filled through the top of the ballast tank intended for the carriage of ballast water with simultaneous discharge from the bottom at the same flow rate and maintaining a constant level in the tank throughout the ballast exchange operation.
D-2- Performance standard defines the performance standard for the ballast water treatment system. The D-2 standard specifies the maximum amount of viable organisms allowed to be discharged, including specified indicator microbes harmful to human health:
2. Plans and diagrams which include Tank arrangement and capacities, A piping diagram of the ballast system and a layout diagram of the ballast control system, A list or set of diagrams showing sampling and access points in pipelines and tanks. These sampling points are to be provided so as to enable the port State officers or other interested parties to confirm that a ballast water exchange has been conducted prior to the discharge of ballast water.
When it is imperative to load ballast water on board, few of the following key points must be kept in mind to minimise the uptake of potentially harmful aquatic organisms and pathogens or sediments containing such pathogens.
These records are considered to be critical to the success of the ballast water management plan and dole out to provide documentation that the ballast water exchange has been properly conducted and the exchange has been completed.
ii) A detailed position and description of the watertight and weathertight closures (e.g., manholes, the opening of vents and air pipes) which may have been opened during ballast exchange that must be re-secured.
1. When ballast water is taken onboard2. Whenever ballast water is circulated or treated for ballast water management purposes3. When ballast water is discharged into the sea4. When ballast water is discharged to a reception facility5. Accidental or other exceptional uptake or discharge of ballast water6. Additional operational procedures and general remarks.
The picture above shows the ballast sequence planned for a vessel. Note the tanks containing ballast water, some partially and some fully. Factors such as trim, stability and visibility are all taken into account prior planning a ballast sequence.
It is to be noted that the ballast water exchange standards that are D1 is temporary and sooner or later all ships have to comply with the performance standards D2, which implies that all vessels must have a ballast treatment plant.
Ballast water management systems must be approved by the Administration taking into account IMO Guidelines. Carriage of ballast water is indispensable to maintain acceptable load and trim conditions during a specific voyage or a segment of a voyage.
You stateWhen it is imperative to load ballast water on board, few of the following key points must be kept in mind to minimise the uptake of potentially harmful aquatic organisms and pathogens or sediments containing such pathogens.
The tools will help vessel owners to educate the crew about ballast water legislation. They also help marine engineers to understand the ballast water management system: what it is, how to operate it, and how to maintain and service it.
DESMI has long used the facility for not only customers, but also to train its own service engineers and new employees with a physical installation of the entire ballast water management system. Additionally, the facility enables DESMI to further develop and test new features to the system.
To mitigate the risk, the International Marine Organization (IMO) Ballast Water Management Convention and the United States Coast Guard have developed strict regulations for ballast water management and discharge. All ships must meet these standards by 2024.
Ankron Water Services, a marine testing and consulting company, assessed the LuminUltra BQUA PLUS Ballast Water Monitoring Kit to determine its suitability to perform rapid and accurate commissioning testing for ballast water management systems.
Delegations.Includes Operating and Delegation Agreements which have been entered into by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and another state agency, political subdivision or water management district. These agreements are incorporated by reference.
Delegations.Includes Operating and Delegation Agreements which have been entered into by DEP and another state agency, political subdivision or water management district. These agreements are incorporated by reference.
In November 2012, Goltens received the order for 3D Laser scanning and delivery of a detailed engineering design package and associated piping for the installation of an Optimarin ballast water treatment system (OBS) on the Apache II, an advanced pipelay vessel.
NOTING that regulation A-2 of the Ballast Water Management Convention requires that discharge of ballast water shall only be conducted through Ballast Water Management in accordance with the provisions of the Annex to the Convention,
HAVING CONSIDERED, at its fifty-fourth session, the draft Guidelines for approval and oversight of prototype ballast water treatment technology programmes developed by the Ballast Water Working Group,
1. ADOPTS the Guidelines for approval and oversight of prototype ballast water treatment technology programmes as set out in the annex to this resolution; 2. INVITES Governments to apply the Guidelines as soon as possible, or when the Convention becomes applicable to them; and
1.3 The Guidelines include general recommendations on design and construction, technical procedures for overall performance testing and evaluation, procedures for the issuance of a Statement of Compliance in accordance with regulation D-4 and Administration oversight responsibilities.1.4 As the level of ballast water management knowledge, experience and subsequently technological achievements continue to develop, these Guidelines may require updating. Periodical review of their content in light of such developments should be carried out and any revisions duly circulated by the Organization. 2ff7e9595c
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