Ballast Water Discharge and the Influence of Seawater Environment

2014 ◽  
Vol 989-994 ◽  
pp. 1161-1164
Author(s):  
Xiao Yan Li ◽  
Sha Liu ◽  
Zhi Min Zhou

Ships have carried solid ballast for thousands of years in the form of rocks, sand or metal. In modern times, ships use water as ballast. It is more easier to load on and off a ship and more efficient and economical than solid ones. Ship fills with ballast water when it is empty of cargo, and the ballast water is discharged when it loads cargo. In ballast water ,there are hundreds of organisms carried that cause problematic ecological effects outside of their natural range. Preventing the transfer of invasive species and coordinating a timely and effective response to invasions require cooperation and collaboration between governments. Considerable efforts had already made to formulate appropriate standards for ballast water management during the convention development process. Overview

2018 ◽  
Vol 182 ◽  
pp. 02004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcin Bielski ◽  
Jacek Wachowicz ◽  
Ryszard Bielski ◽  
Arkadiusz Adamczyk ◽  
Hendra Jantanata

Diagnostics in ballast water management is the main remedy to protect against the threat of spreading invasive species that can be carried in ships' ballast tanks. This phenomenon is getting better known and understood. New and more effective methods of preventing threats related to this are being developed. Procedures are created to ensure environmental safety in the face of ever-increasing transport by sea. The article characterizes both the background of the problem, basic diagnostic medics used in ballast water management, as well as procedures and basic techniques used to ensure the safety of the natural environment..


2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Debra DiCanna

Even though the Ballast Water Management Convention (BWMC) (referred to herewith as the Convention) has been ratified and a few ballast water management systems (BMWS) have received US Coast Guard (USCG) type approval, many shipowners and operators are reticent to begin the significant process of planning for compliance with ballast water discharge and performance standards. This delay is most probably due to the uncertainty in the implementation dates in the BWMC and limited options of USCG type approved BWMS. These delays may result in significant ramifications for shipowners if the process for compliance is not fully evaluated. This process includes selecting, designing installation, purchasing, start-up and commissioning of BWMS. Clarity on the implementation schedule should be determined at the 71st session of the Marine Environmental Protection Committee of the International Maritime Organization (IMO MEPC 71) and allow shipowners to plan for compliance. An important aspect of implementation is developing a strong compliance plan. A central part of compliance is identifying possible problems and contingency options that may alleviate any potential port State control issues. The paper will identify possible problems and contingency measures to ensure ship operations are not impacted. An important issue is that the BWMC does not include provisions for contingency measures. The paper will also outline needed contingency measures to be addressed by the IMO in any amendments to the BWMC.


2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Sawkins ◽  
Jenni Kakkonen

Orkney Islands Council is the Statutory Harbour Authority for Scapa Flow – a 324.5km2 area of deep water and sheltered anchorage in the Orkney Islands, north of mainland Scotland, with a long history and present use by all types of shipping. This paper will provide a short introduction to the development of the IMO and EU Directive compliant Ballast Water Management Policy for Scapa Flow which was approved by the competent planning authority in December 2013. Scapa Flow is in an environmentally sensitive area, this along with best practice was taken into account when developing the Policy – which includes strict and enforceable requirements on vessels and the Harbour Authority with regards to operations, monitoring and reporting. Since its approval there have been thirty-three occasions where ballast water discharge into Scapa Flow (by various types of vessels) has been requested. The Policy requires that vessels requesting to discharge ballast water into Scapa Flow must exchange and treat (where a treatment system is fitted) on every visit to Scapa Flow (no exceptions or exemptions allowed). To date thirty-one vessels have carried out exchange and two have carried out exchange and treat – all as per the Policy. This paper will deal with the setting of an IMO compliant Ballast Water Policy through to practical application by a Statutory Harbour Authority for a period of three years from 2013 to present day – with examples of ship types, amounts, any restrictions imposed, checks and reports made. It will include – with input from the Harbour Authority’s Marine Environment Unit lead by Jenni Kakkonen –a review of the positive actions, problems, solutions and overall results obtained so far regarding taking ballast water samples from these vessels, analysing the same and recording of details. There is a continual review and reporting process with regards to the effectiveness of the Policy to the Orkney Marine Environment Protection Committee (comprising of all the relevant statutory advisors and interested groups). The paper will contain the Harbour Authority’s way ahead in order to remain compliant, maintain its knowledge base of new technologies and environmental reports – all with the continued aim of maintaining the environment and commercial sustainability of Scapa Flow as a leading port and harbour.


2012 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 83-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liang Jing ◽  
Bing Chen ◽  
Baiyu Zhang ◽  
Hongxuan Peng

Ballast water is carried by cruise ships, large tankers, and bulk cargo carriers to acquire the optimum operating depth of the propeller and to maintain maneuverability and stability. Recently, ballast water has been recognized as wastewater that is responsible for ocean pollution due to the worldwide transfer of non-indigenous species, pathogenic bacteria, and other pollutants via ballast water discharge. This poses serious environmental, ecological, and economic threats to both coastal communities and the marine environment. To address these negative impacts and concerns, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has codified and adopted a series of guidelines to minimize pollution and adverse effects caused by ballast water. A number of treatment technologies have been developed and applied in field practices to remove solids, particulates, organic pollutants, and organisms from ballast water, showing certain advantages and limitations. Many other management practices, such as ballast water exchange (BWE), shipping routes optimization, treatment process modeling, and risk assessment are in high demand to aid onboard treatment systems. However, knowledge and technical gaps still exist regarding the implementation of ballast water management practices especially in the context of arctic and harsh environments under changing climatic conditions. Records indicate that most coastal regions in the north have been invaded by unwanted species via ballast water discharge in the past decades. The North Atlantic and the Arctic Oceans have much colder climates and more extreme weather conditions than low latitudes. The discharge of untreated or less treated ballast water could cause much more severe damage to the local environment and hence pose higher risks to ecosystems and even human health, particularly in the context of climate change. Based on a comprehensive literature review, this study proposed a risk-based fuzzy–stochastic–interval programming decision support system to help eliminate environmental, ecological, as well as health threats from the discharge of ballast water, particularly in the north where weather, space, timing, maintenance, and cost are major concerns.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eleyadath Lakshmi ◽  
Machinchery Priya ◽  
Velayudhan Sivanandan Achari

Bio-invasion caused due to ballast water discharge is one of many problems in marine pollution. Countries such as Canada, Brazil, USA and Australia recognized the problems associated with ballasting and deballasting. Countries affected with invasive species formulated specific laws for discharging ballast water in their respective ports. Under the coordination of IMO, countries came together and stressed for globally accepted guidelines that each and every ship has to comply with, while entering any port. In the wake of this, IMO in a convention (2004) on ballast water, proposed guidelines for performing proper ballast water management. This includes ballast water exchange, ballast water treatment, port reception facility, technology approval process, sampling ballast water, analysis methods of ballast water and risk assessment in the convention. Eventually the 2004 convention was found to be inadequate in providing complete elimination of bio invasion. Amendments are made to the 2004 convention over the years for ballast water management. It is found that the member states should share technology among developing countries in establishing sampling and testing laboratories. Region specific sampling analysis and research has to be formulated to understand the bio-invasion based on region and characteristics of different target species in evaluating risk assessment. The D2 standard mentioned in the 2004 convention should be changed from size specific to ‘no organism’ standard in ballast water for discharge. New combination of BWT systems and ‘no ballast’ system with modification to the ship design should be tested, developed and implemented to bring in ecological balance and sustenance in the marine ecosystems.


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