Determination of the Appropriate Ballast Water Treatment Systems Based on the Voyage Regions for Turkish Shipowners' Companies

Ships must be equipped with ballast water treatment systems to comply with the D-2 standard of the Ballast Water Management Convention. It is required that the adaptation processes of all ships must be completed by September 8, 2024, according to the timetable created by the International Maritime Organization. There are many ballast water treatment systems that shipowners' companies can adopt in the market. The characteristics of the treatment methods used in these systems are different from one another. There are strengths and weaknesses relative to each method. In this process, the choice of one of these ballast water treatment systems is a perplexing problem for shipowners' companies, whose ships have different tonnage and voyage regions. In this context, this study aims to clarify criteria used in the selection of a ballast water treatment system by Turkish shipowners' companies based on the voyage regions of ships. The relative weight of criteria for both international transporting companies and coastal transporting companies are calculated using analytical hierarchy process. Consequently, the most suitable ballast water treatment systems for these two companies are determined using both Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution and VIKOR, and the factors that play a role in this choice were discussed comparatively.

Systems of environmental innovation: sectoral and technological perspectives on ballast water treatment systems

The research on innovation in the maritime sector has commonly focused on the implementation of innovation rather than on more complex issues such as the interplay between technological aspects, market conditions, and, particularly, regulatory regimes in shaping the emergence and growth of global systems involved with the development, production, and use of environmental innovation. Therefore, this paper sets out to analyze—by combining insights from sectoral (SSI) and technological (TIS) systems of innovation concepts—ballast water treatment systems (BWTS), designed to prevent the negative impacts of invasive species, as an example of such complex interaction. The results show how public policy and institutional acceptance have shaped the market for BWTS. First, BWTS were induced by environmental regulations mandating their use. Second, the demand for BWTS increases substantially when the implementation date of the regulations approaches. Third, differences in regulatory regimes shape the demand for various available technologies. Without coordinated regulations, this unclear operating environment remains a definite concern for shipowners when choosing the specific type of BWTS technology for onboard installation. The results also underline that the combined SSI/TIS framework, utilized in this paper, is a feasible analytical framework for studying environmental innovation.

Regulatory Systems Supporting Innovation: Lessons from the Development of the 2004 Ballast Water Management Convention

The 2004 Ballast Water Management Convention (BWMC) demands the development of new technology in order to ensure improved environmental performance by ships. However, the successful development of innovation through technology requires characteristics missing from the rather conservative shipping sector in general and also from the BWMC as a legal instrument in particular. The authorisations granted under the BWMC with respect to ballast water treatment systems indicate that the innovation cycle was already completed before the adopted performance standards became legally binding. The innovative efforts were restricted to shipbuilding countries and were not accompanied by incentives to develop suitable sampling techniques to ensure efficient implementation. Innovation through regulation requires evolving standards, benefits for innovators and first movers as well as impact assessments on the efficiency of the chosen technological solutions in resolving the environmental problem. A revised BWMC, to be efficient, needs to take these factors into account.

Assessment of Selected On-Board Ballast Water Treatment Systems in Terms of Technical and Operational Parameters

The BWM Convention (Ballast Water Management Convention) will enter into force on 8 September 2017. This document is a response to a very significant problem such as sea water pollution. Due to the Convention, a huge number of companies will be forced to analyze the matter and implement the required provisions. They shall also assess the technologies applied and the fixed systems for ballast water treatment as well as set the requirements in relation to the selection and installation of same at ships. The paper presents the currently applicable regulations and the review of the technologies used for ballast water treatment. There are 5 ballast water treatment systems described herein that are offered by the top producers. The paper includes also the technical and operational parameters of the systems in question. The analysis shall allow for an assessment that may be valuable during the selection process.

Cost Efficiency of Ballast Water Treatment Systems Based on Ultraviolet Irradiation and Electrochlorination

Having come into effect, the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments of 2004 requires ships to process their ballast water in accordance with specific standards. Different processing methods require different use of ship power, thus affecting fuel oil consumption, ships’ energy efficiency, and the ship economics in general. This paper presents the analysis and comparison of the economic viability of systems using two dominant ballast water treatment methods on merchant ships. The cost effectiveness of these methods, UV irradiation and electrochlorination, is compared to the standard efficiency of ballast water exchange using sequential flow method as a reference. The process efficiency is measured through fuel oil consumption on board. Taking into account possible variations in efficiency due to different designs and environmental constraints and assumptions, the findings are in favor of the electrochlorination method.