Ballast Water Treatment Systems Research Articles

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

Abstract 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.

Compliance assessment for the ballast water convention: time for a re-think? A U.K. case study

The damaging introduction of invasive species continues unabated fourteen years after the adoption of the IMO Ballast Water Management Convention (BWMC). The Convention came into force in September, 2017, 13 years after its adoption. Qualifying commercial vessels will need to comply with international discharge regulations and must now contend with complex regulations, uncertain Ballast Water Treatment System performance and potentially inconsistent enforcement internationally. Part of the dilemma rests with the stringent standards which often take days to determine. When certification testing is superseded by rapid Port State Control (PSC) compliance assessment during a port visit, questions arise regarding the logistics of sampling/analysis and the functionality of the BWTS. Reflecting doubts about the performance of installed BWTS IMO have proposed an interim Experience Building Phase (EBP) wherein BWTS non-compliance would not be penalised if operated in good faith. This paper presents a rationale for a robust global programme to test the efficacy of BWTS through Port State Control, using the U.K. as a ‘Case Study’. Rapid prognostic testing during port visits would be employed using technologies certified by regulatory agencies. Such indicative testing would not necessarily address every single aspect of international standards, but would represent robust compliance assessment, that would provide feedback data vital to the improvement of BWTS. Abbreviations: AIS: Aquatic Invasive Species; BWMC: Ballast Water Management Convention; BWTS: Ballast Water Treatment System; CFC: Chlorofluorocarbons; EBP: (IMO) Experience Building Phase; FDOM: Fluorescent Dissolved Organic Matter; HC: Hydrocarbons; HCF: Hydrofluorocarbons; HCFC: Hydrochlorofluorocarbons; IMO: International Maritime Organization; IOPP: International Oil Pollution Prevention; MARPOL: Marine Pollution (Convention); MEPC: IMO Marine Environmental Protection Committee; NOx: Nitrogen oxides; SERC: Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, Edgewater, Maryland, U.S.A.

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.

선박평형수 처리장치의 스크린 필터 성능 최적화 연구

선박평형수는 선박 운항 시 복원성 또는 균형 유지를 위해 사용된다. 장거리 선박의 선박 평형수는 해양 생태계 교란으로 인한 해양 오염의 주요 원인이다. 스크린 필터는 수처리 시스템의 전처리로 고형물을 제거하는 데 사용된다. 스크린 필터는 반영구적으로 사용하기 위해 역세정 메커니즘이 요구된다. 즉, 스크린 필터는 세정 시간은 길어야 하며, 역 세정 횟수와 시간은 최소화하도록 설계되어야한다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 수직 방향 스크린 필터의 반경 변화와 하우징의 반경 변화에 대한 유동 특성을 분석하였다. 결과적으로, 하우징 각도가 출구 측으로 갈수록 좁아지고, 필터 각도는 넓어지는 인자를 조합한 모델이 여과 및 역세척 효율이 높게 나타났다.

현존선에 오존 처리방식 선박평형수 처리장치 설치를 위한 위험도 평가 연구

현존선에 오존 처리방식 선박평형수 처리장치 설치를 위한 위험도 평가 연구

The Compliance of Ship's Crew Toward International Convention Implementation for Controlling of Ballast Water and Sediment from Ships In Offshore Port of Taboneo

This study aims to analyze the level of compliance of the ship’s crew toward The BWM Convention. (Ballast Water Management Convetion). This research is kind of qualitative using a research design that relates the independent variables and the dependent variable at the same time. The study was conducted in the Offshore Port of Taboneo with a total sample of 54 respondents. The research data is primary data from interview by using questioner and secondary data obtained from interview and literature study. The results showed that the Compliance of the crew on the ship that has been equipped with Ballast Water Treatment System (BWTS) is 66.67 % of respondents fall into the category approach to obedient and 33.33 % of respondents approach to non-obedient category. So also the compliance of crew on board ship that has not been equipped with BWTS there are as many as 60.61 % of respondents fall into the category approach to obedient and 39.39 % of respondents approach to non-obedient category.

Application of a hydroxyl-radical-based disinfection system for ballast water

A hydroxyl radical (OH) ballast water treatment system (BWTS) was developed and applied to inactivate entrained organisms in a 10,000-ton oceanic ship, where OH was produced by a strong ionization discharge combined with a water jet cavitation effect. The calculated OH generation rate was 1373.4 μM min−1 in ballast water, which is much higher than that in other advanced oxidative processes such as photocatalysis. As a result, non-indigenous red tide algae were inactivated to meet the ballast water discharge standards (<10 cells mL−1) of the International Maritime Organization. The ratio of variable fluorescence to maximum fluorescence (Fv/Fm) for algal chlorophyll rapidly decreased to zero within a contact time of only 6 s, indicating complete inactivation of algae. Observation under a scanning electron microscope showed no cellular materials were released by algal cells upon OH inactivation. A risk assessment of the OH treatment system was conducted, and the ratios of predicted environmental concentrations to predicted no effect concentrations of all detected disinfection byproducts were less than 1, even at a worst-case oxidant concentration of 2.41 mg L−1. Ship ballast water treated using OH inactivation is safe for marine environments. Finally, the energy consumption and operational costs of the OH BWTS were found to be 0.033 kWh m−3 and CNY 0.03 m-3, respectively.

현존선에 자외선 처리방식 선박 평형수 처리장치 설치를 위한 위험도 평가 분석

Since Ballast Water Management Convention has been adopted, BWM Convention is effecting after 8SUPth/SUP Sep. 2017. Effecting conditions of this convention are to be satisfied for ratification by 30 countries, and representing 35% of world merchant shipping tonnage. Last Finland has ratified this convention on 8SUPth/SUP Sep. 2017. In the case of new ships, BWM convention is to be applied to new ships on or after the date of construction as of 8th Sep. 2017, and these vessels are to be equipped with Ballast Water Treatment System in progress. On the other hand, existing vessels inspected for IOPP between 8th Sep. 2014 and 7SUPth/SUP Sep. 2017, for vessels constructed on or before 8th Sep. 2017, are subject to vessel inspection at the time of the first IOPP periodic inspection after 8SUPth/SUP Sep. 2017 the D-2 standard through the installation of a Ballast Water Treatment System shall be observed. Until now, about 73 Ballast Water Treatment Systems certified by Administration have been be reported to IMO. Even, types of Ballast Water Treatment System are very various. So, the Risk of each Ballast Water Treatment System can be variously existed, and these Risks can be also effected to boarding crew safety and protection of ship`s property. Therefore, we have evaluated a Risk Assessment for an existing vessel retrofitting an Ultra Violet Type BWTS which is generally produced in worldwide. And we explained the detail procedure of selecting a object vessel. In conclusion, bulk carrier has been selected, because the sort of this vessel mostly charged in the world. In addition, DWT 175K size is selected. Risk Assessment is to study by using a HAZID and HAZOP method, evaluation method is referred to IMO Document

New role of hydrocyclone in ballast water treatment

Abstract Laboratory experiments were carried out to determine the effects of an integrated ballast water treatment system on the viability of test species of phytoplankton (Tetraselmis suecica) and zooplankton (Artemia salina cysts and nauplii). The effects of two components of the treatment system were tested: cyclonic separation in the hydrocyclone (HC) and radiation in the ultraviolet (UV) reactor. The approach employed in this study used the HC not only for reduction of the suspended solid content but also for inactivation of living organisms in ballast water. The application of UV radiation following treatment in the HC contributed to a reduction in the number of living organisms in the ballast water. Better separation efficiency was obtained in the experiments with higher inlet pressure and in which organisms with greater mass and density were used. This study demonstrated the successful use of a HC for inactivation of some planktonic organisms. That provides an alternative to the traditional purpose of a HC, namely separation or reduction of suspended matter and organisms in ballast water. These results suggest that optimizing the HC system can potentially improve ballast water treatment capacity.

The role of human factor in maritime environment risk assessment: A practical application on Ballast Water Treatment (BWT) system in ship

ABSTRACTThe role of human factor plays a critical role in the safe and clean operation of maritime industry. Human error prediction can be beneficial to assess risk in maritime industry since shipping activities can pose potential hazards to human life and maritime ecology. The aim of this paper is to propose a risk assessment tool by considering the role of human factor. Hence, the desired safety control level in maritime transportation activities can be ascertained. In the proposed approach, a Success Likelihood Index Method (SLIM) extended with fuzzy logic is used to calculate human error probability (HEP). Severity of consequences are adopted in the proposed approach to assess risk. The quantitative risk assessment approach under fuzzy SLIM methodology will be applied to a very specific case on-board ship: Ballast Water Treatment (BWT) system. In order to improve consistency of research and minimize subjectivity of experts' judgments, the paper adopts the dominance factor which is used to adjust the impact level of experts' judgments in the aggregation stage of the methodology. The paper aims at not only highlighting the importance of human factor in maritime risk assessment but also enhancing safety control level and minimizing potential environmental impacts to marine ecology.

Prikaz statusa sustava za obradu balastnih voda na tržištu

The International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments was adopted in February 2004 and it was ratified by a sufficient number of countries in September 2016. The most important part of the Convention is Regulation D-2. One way to meet D-2 is to retrofit Ballast Water Treatment Systems (BWTS) on existing ships and their fitting on newbuildings. The market consists of the following stakeholders: shipowners, equipment manufacturers, shipyards, recognized organizations, laboratories for testing the efficacy of the BWTS and coastal countries’ administrations in charge for implementing Convention standards. In order to enable enough time to comply with the Convention, shipowners are granted maximum 5 year period, i.e. system retrofitting is connected to the first renewal of the International Oil Pollution Prevention certificate after September 2017. Some shipowners will postpone retrofitting for five years since they will renew IOPP certificates in advance, which is approved by many flag States and stated in their circular letters. More than 60 systems received flag State type approvals, but only few systems are approved by United States Maritime Administration (MARAD). That is one of the reasons why most of the shipowners are still waiting with planning and retrofitting, which leads to requests for more postponement. However, many manufacturers claim that they will be ready for increased demand for BWTS and will cope with and try to satisfy market demand by hiring additional work force, by expanding existing manufacturing facilities and maintain good cooperation with shipyards.

Detection of UV-treatment effects on plankton by rapid analytic tools for ballast water compliance monitoring immediately following treatment

Non-indigenous species seriously threaten native biodiversity. To reduce establishments, the International Maritime Organization established the Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments which limits organism concentrations at discharge under regulation D-2. Most ships will comply by using on-board treatment systems to disinfect their ballast water. Port state control officers will need simple, rapid methods to detect compliance. Appropriate monitoring methods may be dependent on treatment type, since different treatments will affect organisms by a variety of mechanisms. Many indicative tools have been developed, but must be examined to ensure the measured variable is an appropriate signal for the response of the organisms to the applied treatment. We assessed the abilities of multiple analytic tools to rapidly detect the effects of a ballast water treatment system based on UV disinfection. All devices detected a large decrease in the concentrations of vital organisms ≥50μm and organisms <10μm (mean 82.7–99.7% decrease across devices), but results were more variable for the ≥10 to <50μm size class (mean 9.0–99.9% decrease across devices). Results confirm the necessity to choose tools capable of detecting the damage inflicted on living organisms, as examined herein for UV-C treatment systems.

현존선에 전기분해방식 선박평형수 처리장치 설치를 위한 위험도 평가 분석

현존선에 전기분해방식 선박평형수 처리장치 설치를 위한 위험도 평가 분석

Development of the Electrolysis Ballast Water Treatment System and Test

선박의 항해 안전성을 유지하기 위하여 평형수 탱크에 주입ㆍ배출되는 선박평형수는 그 안에 포함되어 있는 각종 수중생물로 인하여 지역 해양 환경에 부정적인 영향을 주고 있다. 국제해사기구(IMO)는 선박평형수를 통한 수중생물의 이동을 막기 위해, 2004년 선박평형수와 침전물 통제 및 관리를 위한 국제협약을 채택하고 2016년 9월에 발효하여, 2017년 9월...

Efficacy and residual toxicity of a sodium hydroxide based ballast water treatment system for freshwater bulk freighters

Abstract The efficacy and residual toxicity of a sodium hydroxide (NaOH) based ballast water treatment system (BWTS) were tested aboard the Great Lakes carrier M/V American Spirit in 1000 L mesocosms containing water from the ship's ballast tanks. NaOH was added to elevate the pH to 11.5 or 11.7 for 48 h, after which pH was reduced to 96% in pH 11.7 treated discharge water relative to uptake densities. Seven day whole effluent toxicity tests indicated pH 11.7 NaOH BW met the USEPA VGP daily maximum criteria for residual toxicity. Organism densities in uptake water did not meet the minimum densities for IMO G8 shipboard test validity in 2 of 4 trials for organisms ≥ 10 μm to

Ballast water compliance monitoring: A new application for ATP

The coming into force of the USCG ballast water regulations and the IMO ballast water management convention resulted in the development of several technologies approved for the treatment of ballast water. To ensure compliance of these technologies, the development of rapid and robust analysis methods was necessary.In collaboration with the SGS Group (Switzerland) and LuminUltra (Canada), Aqua-tools (France) has developed an innovative Ballast Water Treatment Monitoring (BWTM) kit for rapid onboard testing. The affordable kit provides results in less than 1h, is easy to use and durable ensuring that the ballast water treatment system on the ship is fully compliant with the discharge standards upon arrival in port.The core of this method is a combination of high-quality reagents (lysis solution and ATP 2G Luminase™ enzyme) not inhibited by salinity and a patented fast homogenizing method for ATP extraction developed for a higher ATP recovery from zooplankton and phytoplankton. Compared to traditional analysis methods, the BWTM Kit provides fast and accurate results for all three fractions of microorganisms (≥50μm, ≥10÷<50μm and bacteria). Preliminary tests carried out in cooperation with SGS showed that the proposed method was able to detect onboard the efficiency of the treatment systems used. Compliance limits were established for all size fractions and a correlation between the standard methods (microscopy, plate count, MPN) and ATP was evaluated. The BWTM kit can provide a fast indication of compliance or gross exceedance. The rare borderline cases, when encountered, of course require additional confirmation.

Potential use of an ultrasound antifouling technology as a ballast water treatment system

The aim of this study was to investigate, at a laboratory scale, the potentialities of an ultrasound-based treatment initially designed to eliminate fouling, as a ballast water treatment system. Therefore, early life stages of three different zooplanktonic species (Amphibalanus amphitrite, Brachionus plicatilis and Artemia salina) were exposed to ultrasound waves (20–22kHz). The experimental set up included static assays with variations of time exposure (30s, 60s and 30s on/60s off/30s on), material of tanks (stainless steel, galvanized steel and plastic) and position of the ultrasound source. Results showed that the treatment efficacy increased from 30 to 60s and no differences were registered between 60s-continuous exposure and pulse exposure. The highest efficacy was observed in Experiment I (metal-to-metal contact assay) with a mortality value of 93–95% for B. plicatilis and A. salina. It consisted of organisms located inside stainless steel tubes that were located in direct contact with the ultrasound source and treated for 60s. Further, we found that, generally, A. amphitrite and B. plicatilis were the most resistant species to the ultrasound treatment whereas A. salina was the most sensitive. We further discuss that US may unlikely be used for commercial vessels, but may be used to treat ballast water in smaller ballast tanks as on board of mega yachts.

Algal DNA Repair Kinetics Support Culture-Based Enumeration for Validation of Ultraviolet Disinfection Ballast Water Treatment Systems

To mitigate the potential spread of invasive species and pathogens, the International Maritime Organization and U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) adopted discharge performance standards for ballast water management that will take full effect in 2017. The USCG requires staining methods for enumerating ballast water treatment system (BWTS) efficacy. These stains do not detect DNA damage, the primary mechanism for ultraviolet (UV) disinfection, and neglect potential DNA repair after discharge. These factors necessitate investigation of enumeration methods for accurate validation and approval of UV-based BWTSs. To molecularly assess DNA damage and repair kinetics, UV-induced DNA lesions were quantified by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in Tetraselmis suecica control and UV-treated samples that were cultured and tested over time. Most DNA repair occurred within 6 h, was essentially complete within 24 h, and was insensitive to light or nutrient conditions during incubation. Asymptotic repair kinetics indicated a ma...

Comparative feasibility study on retrofitting ballast water treatment system for a bulk carrier

Use of ballast water in ships causes harmful effects on marine environment accompanied by economic loss and negative impact on ecosystem and human health. To solve these problems, the international convention on ballast water management will take into force in September 2017. In this study, a comprehensive feasibility of retrofitting the ballast water treatment system for an ocean-going bulk carrier was conducted. The technologies involved, installation and operational aspects of direct flow and side stream electrolysis, UV, and ozone type BWTS are described in detail. The principal concept of each BWTS is explained and probable arrangements of retrofitting in engine room are suggested. The cost analysis is carried out for retrofitting 4 types of BWTS onboard the target ship by examining each processes of installation and operation.

The application of the AHP-TOPSIS for evaluating ballast water treatment systems by ship operators

The Ballast Water Management Convention (BWMC) was introduced by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and it aims at minimizing the transfer of pathogens micro-organisms to the sensitive ecological marine areas, through the ballast of the oceangoing ships. Although it is expected to be enforced worldwide, there are some concerns about the technical requirements of the BWMC and in particular, the application of the Ballast Water Treatment Systems (BWTS) onboard ships. Up to date, there is not sufficient data regarding the performance of existing BWTS making an obstacle to their approval requirement by some states. In this paper, the methodology which is proposed involves expert judgement, utilized for the selection of the BWTS by a ship operator. As an essential part of the research methodology, the TOPSIS and the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) are combined, to determine a cost-benefit decision-making tool, which would be applicable for the ship operators. In this paper, a case study is carried out, showing the potentials of the methodology and evaluating the choice of a BWTS for ships, trading in the USA.