Ballast Water Treatment Systems Research Articles

Synthesis of water suitable as the MEPC.174(58) G8 influent water for testing ballast water management systems.

Here, we describe the methodologies adopted to ensure that natural seawater, used as "influent water" for the land test, complies with the requirement that should be fulfilled to show the efficacy of the new ballast water treatment system (BWTS). The new BWTS was located on the coast of SW Sicily (Italy), and the sampled seawater showed that bacteria and plankton were two orders of magnitude lower than requested. Integrated approaches for preparation of massive cultures of bacteria (Alcanivorax borkumensis and Marinobacter hydrocarbonoclasticus), algae (Tetraselmis suecica), rotifers (Brachionus plicatilis), and crustaceans (Artemia salina) suitable to ensure that 200m(3) of water fulfilled the international guidelines of MEPC.174(58)G8 are here described. These methodologies allowed us to prepare the "influent water" in good agreement with guidelines and without specific problems arising from natural conditions (seasons, weather, etc.) which significantly affect the concentrations of organisms at sea. This approach also offered the chance to reliably run land tests once every two weeks.

선박평형수 처리장치 효율 검증을 위한 해양미소부유생물 생사판별기법

본 연구는 선박평형수처리장치 성능을 평가하기 위한 일환으로 Evan blue, Aniline blue 그리고 CMFDA 염색방법을 활용하여 해양부유생물의 생사판별을 이해하고자 하였다. Evans blue와 Aniline blue의 염색은 죽은 생물을 파란색으로 염색 하여 죽은 생물을 평가하는 방법이고, CMFDA의 방법은 살아있는 생물을 녹색으로 염색하여 평가한다. 현장 동·식물플랑크 톤 군집을 대상으로 Evans blue와 Aniline blue의 방법을 적용한 결과, 죽은 생물을 90%이상 염색시키는 것으로 나타났다. 하지만, 살아있는 일부 식물플랑크톤의 군집에서도 파란색으로 염색 되어, 실제 선박평형수 처리장장치의 성능을 평가하기에 는 일정의 한계성을 나타내었다. 한편, 살아있는 생물을 염색하는CMFDA방법을 적용한 결과, 현장의 부유생물의 70%의 염 색효과를 보였다. CMFDA방법은 FDA방법과 유사하게 살아있는 생물을 녹색으로 염색하여 생물 생사판별이 가능하게 함으 로, 두 가지 방법을 중복염색(double staining)하는 방법을 고안해 보다 높은 효율의 생사판별방법을 찾고자 노력하였다. 그 결과, 두 가지의 염색시약을 중복으로 염색한 실험군에서 95%이상의 높은 효율을 보였고. 이는 단일 염색한 실험군보다 상대 적으로 높은 염색효율을 얻을 수 있었다. 따라서 CMFDA+ FDA를 중복염색한 평가법이 해양생물의 생사를 판별하는데 보다 높은 효율을 보였고, 선박평형수처리장치의 성능을 평가하는 방법으로 활용이 가능할 것으로 판단된다.

A New Treatment Strategy for Inactivating Algae in Ballast Water Based on Multi-Trial Injections of Chlorine.

Ships’ ballast water can carry aquatic organisms into foreign ecosystems. In our previous studies, a concept using ion exchange membrane electrolysis to treat ballast water has been proven. In addition to other substantial approaches, a new strategy for inactivating algae is proposed based on the developed ballast water treatment system. In the new strategy, the means of multi-trial injection with small doses of electrolytic products is applied for inactivating algae. To demonstrate the performance of the new strategy, contrast experiments between new strategies and routine processes were conducted. Four algae species including Chlorella vulgaris, Platymonas subcordiformis, Prorocentrum micans and Karenia mikimotoi were chosen as samples. The different experimental parameters are studied including the injection times and doses of electrolytic products. Compared with the conventional one trial injection method, mortality rate time (MRT) and available chlorine concentration can be saved up to about 84% and 40%, respectively, under the application of the new strategy. The proposed new approach has great potential in practical ballast water treatment. Furthermore, the strategy is also helpful for deep insight of mechanism of algal tolerance.

On the use of the serial dilution culture method to enumerate viable phytoplankton in natural communities of plankton subjected to ballast water treatment.

Discharge standards for ballast water treatment (BWT) systems are based on concentrations of living cells, for example, as determined with vital stains. Ultraviolet radiation (UV) stops the reproduction of microorganisms without killing them outright; they are living, but not viable, and ecologically as good as dead. Consequently, UV-treated discharge can be compliant with the intent of regulation while failing a live/dead test. An alternative evaluation of BWT can be proposed based on the assessment of viable, rather than living, cells in discharge water. In principle, the serial dilution culture-most probable number (SDC-MPN) method provides the appropriate measure for phytoplankton. But, the method has been criticized, particularly because it is thought that many phytoplankton species cannot be cultured. A review of the literature shows that although SDC-MPN has been used for more than 50 years—generally to identify and count phytoplankton species that cannot be preserved—its application to enumerate total viable phytoplankton seems to be new, putting past criticisms of the method in a different light. Importantly, viable cells need to grow only enough to be detected, not to be brought into sustained culture, and competition between species in a dilution tube is irrelevant as long as the winner is detectable. Thorough consideration of sources of error leads to recommendations for minimizing and quantifying uncertainties by optimizing growth conditions and conducting systematic comparisons. We conclude that with careful evaluation, SDC-MPN is potentially an effective method for assessing the viability of phytoplankton after BWT.

A comparison of six different ballast water treatment systems based on UV radiation, electrochlorination and chlorine dioxide

The spread of aquatic invasive species through ballast water is a major ecological and economical threat. Because of this, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) set limits to the concentrations of organisms allowed in ballast water. To meet these limits, ballast water treatment systems (BWTSs) were developed. The main techniques used for ballast water treatment are ultraviolet (UV) radiation and electrochlorination (EC). In this study, phytoplankton regrowth after treatment was followed for six BWTSs. Natural plankton communities were treated and incubated for 20 days. Growth, photosystem II efficiency and species composition were followed. The three UV systems all showed similar patterns of decrease in phytoplankton concentrations followed by regrowth. The two EC and the chlorine dioxide systems showed comparable results. However, UV- and chlorine-based treatment systems showed significantly different responses. Overall, all BWTSs reduced phytoplankton concentrations to below the IMO limits, which represents a reduced risk of aquatic invasions through ballast water.

신개념 기계식 선박평형수 처리장치의 디스크 형상에 따른 유동특성에 관한 수치해석 연구

신개념 기계식 선박평형수 처리장치의 디스크 형상에 따른 유동특성에 관한 수치해석 연구

Failure of the public health testing program for ballast water treatment systems

Since 2004, an international testing program has certified 53 shipboard treatment systems as meeting ballast water discharge standards, including limits on certain microbes to prevent the spread of human pathogens. We determined how frequently certification tests failed a minimum requirement for a meaningful evaluation, that the concentration of microbes in the untreated (control) discharge must exceed the regulatory limit for treated discharges. In 95% of cases where the result was accepted as evidence that the treatment system reduced microbes to below the regulatory limit, the discharge met the limit even without treatment. This shows that the certification program for ballast water treatment systems is dysfunctional in protecting human health. In nearly all cases, the treatment systems would have equally well “passed” these tests even if they had never been turned on. Protocols must require minimum concentrations of targeted microbes in test waters, reflecting the upper range of concentrations in waters where ships operate.

Alternative, indirect measures of ballast water treatment efficacy during a shipboard trial: a case study

A shipboard study was conducted aboard the cruise ship Coral Princess during a scheduled cruise from San Pedro, CA, USA to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The investigation involved three members of the global TestNet group, with experience in certification testing of ballast water treatment systems (BWTS) designed to eliminate entrained invasive species. A UV-based ballast water treatment system had been employed aboard the vessel for more than 10 years. A variety of established and experimental assessment techniques were employed, both aboard the ship and following shipment of samples via road (5 days) and air (7 days) to remote laboratories. The study was designed to compare the performance of different techniques in assessing BWTS compliance with international regulations, and to test the feasibility of compliance assessment by Port State Control internationally using different laboratories. Overall, biological end-points showed effective treatment of ballast water as judged by the percentage removal (mortality) of organisms in treated samples. Sample transport indicated generally good potential for ‘off-site’ sample analysis and displayed a possible latent effect of treatment as judged by a decline in photosynthetic yield associated with delayed analysis.

The Effect of Rise Angle of V-Hull Non Ballast Ship on Seakeeping Performance

In this paper a new concept in ship design was used to be alternative of ballast water system, to emerge that remedy the introduction of invasive marine species and the disadvantages of ballast water treatment systems. Thus, the hydrodynamic influences due to hull line variation of this kind of ships were studied, using the invariant cross-section area curve under the design draft to change the rise angle at bottom. Then numerical calculation was used to get the seakeeping at each angle. Two 3D models were constructed for 59000 DWT oil tankers and 35000 DWT bulk carriers, where the result of the bulk carrier was exposed.

Application of immobilized TiO2 photocatalysis to improve the inactivation of Heterosigma akashiwo in ballast water by intense pulsed light

Ballast water exotic discharge has been identified as a leading vector for marine species invasion. Here immobilized TiO2 photocatalysis is introduced to improve the performance of intense pulsed light. For intense pulsed light/TiO2 photocatalysis, a typical inactivation of 99.89±0.46% can be achieved under treatment condition of 1.78Lmin−1 flow rate, 300V pulse peak voltage, 15Hz pulse frequency and 5ms pulse width. Moreover, within tested 220–260V peak voltage, 18.37–40.51% elevation in inactivation is observed in comparison with intense pulsed light treatment alone. The rough energy consumption of the tested intense pulsed light/TiO2 treatment system is about 1.51–2.51 times higher than that of the typical commercial UV ballast water treatment system. The stability of the photocatalytic reactivity and intactness of loaded TiO2 film is proved within 20-d’s test, while local erosion on stainless steel support is observed after 30-d’s test. The results indicate that intense pulsed light/TiO2 photocatalysis is likely to be a competitive ballast water treatment technique, while further measures is needed to reduce the energy consumption and ensure the performance of TiO2 film in a long run.

Inactivation of microalgae in ballast water with pulse intense light treatment

The exotic emission of ballast water has threatened the coastal ecological environment and people’s health in many countries. This paper firstly introduces pulse intense light to treat ballast water. 99.9±0.09% inactivation of Heterosigma akashiwo and 99.9±0.16% inactivation of Pyramimonas sp. are observed under treatment conditions of 350V pulse peak voltage, 15Hz pulse frequency, 5ms pulse width and 1.78L/min flow rate. The energy consumption of the self-designed pulse intense light treatment system is about 2.90–5.14 times higher than that of the typical commercial UV ballast water treatment system. The results indicate that pulse intense light is an effective technique for ballast water treatment, while it is only a competitive one when drastic decreasing in energy consumption is accomplished.

The Alternatives of Ballast Water System

To eliminate the introduction of invasive marine species and the disadvantages of ballast water (BW) treatment systems a new concept in ship design was developed to be alternative of ballast water system. Non-Ballast ships were rarely mentioned in China even they were studied widely worldwide. In this paper, the different types of non-ballast water ship were reviewed, to be classified in order to facilitate the study of such types of vessels and serve as a base for the development.

Evaluating efficacy of a ballast water filtration system for reducing spread of aquatic species in freshwater ecosystems

Biological invasions by non-indigenous species are considered a leading threat to biodiversity, with prevention being a key management strategy. Consequently, numerous commercial ballast water treatment systems have been, or are being, developed to prevent future aquatic invasions. However, most treatment systems are being designed for the many vessels undertaking long transoceanic voyages in marine waters rather than the relatively few vessels operating on short voyages in freshwater, such as those in the Laurentian Great Lakes. Here we conduct testing of the biological efficacy of a 40 µm ballast water filtration unit through shipboard trials. We test the hypotheses that i) filtration will significantly reduce abundance of zooplankton greater than 50 µm in size but not phytoplankton 10 to 50 µm in size; ii) filtration will reduce zooplankton abundances in ballast water below International Maritime Organization discharge standards, but not those of phytoplankton; and iii) filtration will alter the community composition of zooplankton, non-randomly reducing invasion risk of larger taxa. During the summer of 2012, three shipboard trials were conducted. Ballast water samples were collected using a before-after experimental design. Our study showed that filtration significantly reduced abundance of copepods and cladocerans, but not of juvenile dreissenid veligers and rotifers. Contrary to our expectation, phytoplankton densities were also significantly lower after the treatment. Overall, ballast water treated during our tests would not meet proposed international discharge standards. Filtration altered relative abundance of zooplankton, but did not reduce introduction risk of any taxonomic group due to the small juvenile stages and dormant eggs which passed through the treatment. While we do not rule out filtration as a ballast water treatment option for zooplankton in the future, our tests indicate further development is required for meaningful reduction of invasion risk.

Review of interdisciplinary devices for detecting the quality of ship ballast water.

The results of the ship ballast water treatment systems neutralization need to be verified in a transparent and trustful way before the ship enters a port. Some researches and results, explained in this article, confirm a need for a good verification. If there is no good methodology agreed, then it would not be accepted the solution that the BWMC (Ballast Water Management Convention) 2004 did protect the sea environment in full meaning. The main problem of ballast neutralization are remaining microorganisms (algae blooms, bacteria) ≥10 and <50. Autonomy of the future ballast water detection device has been explained and newest detection methods analyzed. The ranking analysis has been done thru PROMETHEE II (Preference Ranking Organization Method for Enrichment Evaluations) and results were shown by D-Sight software projections.

The Experimental Study on the UV Ballast Water Treatment System

A UV ballast water treatment system was built in this paper. Nitzschiaclosteriumminutissima, Dunaliellasalina and Escherichia coli were selected as the test organisms to run the tests. The test results show that the inactivation ratio for the Escherichia colican close to 100%, when using 5UV lamps and the circulation volume was 5m3/h. While the inactivation ratio for the Nitzschiaclosteriumminutissima and Dunaliellasalina were 86.67% and 82.10%respectively. The investigation provides a better understanding of the UV ballast water treatment further.

Risk assessment of marine environments from ballast water discharges with laboratory-scale hydroxyl radicals treatment in Tianjin Harbor, China

For the majority of ballast water treatment system (BWTS) that employ active substances (e.g., oxidative compounds), relevant chemicals (RCs) formation is an issue owing to their potential adverse effects on aquatic organisms. Accordingly, BWTS must be approved by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), and the approval procedure requires environmental risk assessment. The most commonly employed harbor used to calculate predicted environmental concentrations (PECs) for RCs in treated ballast water is the GESAMP-BWWG (Group of Experts on Scientific Aspects of Marine Environmental Protection–Ballast Water Working Group) model harbor. However, there is very little assessment data available regarding the associated environmental impacts in ports and harbors of China. Therefore, in this study the concentration of fifteen RCs from the existing laboratory-scale BWTS using hydroxyl radicals was obtained and input into the MAMPEC (Marine Antifoulant Model to Predict Environmental Concentrations) model to compute PECs in Tianjin Harbor, China. The potential risks to the aquatic environment posed by treated ballast water in Tianjin Harbor were further assessed based on the calculated ratio of PECs and predicted no effect concentrations (PNECs). Only monochloroacetic acid and dichloroacetic acid were found to have potential risks, and the ratios of PECs and PNECs to the other measured RCs were less than 1, indicating that the environmental risk posed by treated ballast water discharged into Tianjin Harbor is of little concern. The concentration of total residual oxidant recommended by the IMO (<0.2 mg/L) in treated ballast water at discharge was found to be at levels that may pose a risk to the aquatic environment in Tianjin Harbor.

BWTS 원격 모니터링을 위한 트렌드 분석 및 진단

On lot of ships, Ballast Water Treatment Systems(BWTS) are in use, or the newly built ship should be mandatory installation by 2017. It is IMO(International Maritime Organization) regulations. Because the vessel is in long distance, It is managed this system only in the vessel and it may occur considerable cost of maintenance when a problem arises from BWTS. We describe in this paper how to monitor treated ballast water to make sure the ballast water and BWTS on a ship is in proper condition, but before the port entrance. In addition, analysing and forecasting trend signal to prevent failure. Also we can expect reduce the cost of BWTS maintenance. We can monitor the sensor data value's change which collected through satellite from BWTS. And we can observate the ballasting and de-ballasting state of the vessel easily.

The Resistance Performance Influences from Hull Line Variation of V-Shaped Non-Ballast Ship (NoBS)

As a New Concept in Ship Design to be Alternative of Ballast Water System, to Emerge that Remedy the Introduction of Invasive Marine Species and the Disadvantages of Ballast Water Treatment Systems. the Non-Ballast Ship has been Studied Abroad, but it is Rarely Mentioned in China. in this Paper, the Hydrodynamic Influences due to Hull Line Variation of this Kind of Ships were Studied, Using the Method of Invariant Cross-Section Area Curve under the Design Draft to Change the Rise Angle at Bottom. then by Using Numerical Calculation, get the Resistance and Effective Power at each Angle.

Innovation in product and services in the shipping retrofit industry: a case study of ballast water treatment systems

Eco-innovation research pays increasing attention to business models and their contribution to the diffusion of environmental technology into socio-technical systems. The extent to which a business model hampers or promotes certain types of eco-innovations remains an open question. In order to shed light on this issue, the authors develop a conceptual framework to show how a specific type of business model (Product-Service Systems) could be applied to the context of the maritime industry. With a focus on the Danish maritime industry, the case study addresses two questions: Which business models are being used to develop, install and service the ballast water treatment technology? And, How can these business models add value to the ballast water treatment systems in the market? The case shows that different business models are applied depending on whether the installation is on new or retrofitted vessels. Both installation and operation stages of ballast water treatment systems provide opportunities for collaboration among stakeholders. Based on the Eco-costs/Value Ratio model, the authors perform an analysis of on-board and port-based ballast water treatment systems with the aim to propose a possible product-service system. These results suggest that port-based systems have the highest potential for eco-efficient value creation and a possible product-service system can be designed for this kind of technology. The article highlights the point that authorities need to improve regulations to stimulate port-based ballast water treatment systems rather than on-board ballast management systems.

평형수처리장치 성능기준 및 시행시기 차이에 의한 관련 당사자들의 대응전략 연구

평형수처리장치 성능기준 및 시행시기 차이에 의한 관련 당사자들의 대응전략 연구