Ballast Water Treatment Research Articles

The Biological Basis for Ballast Water Performance Standards: “Viable/Non-Viable” or “Live/Dead”?

The shipping industry is critical to international commerce; however, contemporary shipping practices involve uptake and discharge of ballast water, which introduces the potential for transfer of nonindigenous, invasive species among geographically distinct habitats. To counteract this hazard, regulations for ballast water management have been implemented by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and by regulatory agencies such as the United States Coast Guard (USCG). IMO and USCG discharge standards are numerically identical, but involve different definitions of treatment end points, which are based on fundamentally different biological assays for quantification of ballast water treatment effectiveness. Available assays for quantification of the responses of organisms in the 10-50 μm size range include vital stains based on fluorescein diacetate (FDA), sometimes used in combination with 5-chloromethylfluorescein diacetate (CMFDA), observations of motility, and the most probable number dilution culture method (MPN). The mechanisms and implications of these assays are discussed relative to the Type Approval process, which quantitatively evaluates compliance with ballast water discharge standards (BWDSs) under controlled shipboard and land-based tests. For antimicrobial processes that accomplish treatment by preventing subsequent replication of the target species, the FDA/CMFDA and MPN methods can yield dramatically different results. An important example of a treatment process that is affected by the choice of assay is ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. Results of laboratory and field experiments have demonstrated UV-based technologies to be effective for accomplishing the objectives of ballast water treatment (inactivation of cellular reproduction), when the MPN assay is used as the basis for evaluation. The FDA, CMFDA, motility, and MPN methods are subject to well recognized sources of error; however, the MPN method is based on a response that is consistent with the objectives of ballast water management as well as the mechanism of action of UV-based inactivation. Complementary assays are available for use in compliance testing; however, the development of relevant indicative tests remains as a research priority. Historical lessons learned from applications of vital stains (and other indirect methods) for quantification of microbial responses to UV irradiation in other settings also support the use of assays that provide a direct measure of growth and reproduction, such as MPN. Collectively, these observations point to the use of MPN assays as the standard for type testing, especially when UV-based treatment is employed.

Formation of brominated trihalomethanes during chlorination or ozonation of natural organic matter extracts and model compounds in saline water

Oxidation experiments (chlorine, ozone and bromine) were carried out with synthetic saline waters containing natural organic matter (NOM) extracts and model compounds to evaluate the potential of these surrogates to mimic the formation of brominated trihalomethanes (Br-THMs) in natural saline waters. Synthetic saline water with Pony Lake fulvic acid (PLFA) showed comparable results to natural brackish and sea water for Br-THMs formation during chlorination and ozonation for typical ballast water treatment conditions ([Cl2]0 ≥ 5 mg/L or [O3]0 ≥ 3 mg/L). The molar CHBr3 yield in synthetic saline waters is higher for chlorination than for ozonation, since ozone reacts slower with bromide and faster with THM precursors. For bromination, the molar yields of CHBr3 for the NOM model compounds phenol, resorcinol, 3-oxopentanedioic acid and hydroquinone are 28, 62, 91 and 11%, respectively. CHBr3 formation is low during chlorination or ozonation of resorcinol-containing synthetic saline waters due to the faster reaction of resorcinol with these oxidants compared to the bromine formation from bromide. Oxidation experiments with mixtures of hydroquinone and phenol (or resorcinol) were conducted to mimic various functional groups of NOM reacting with Cl2 (or O3) in saline water. With increasing hydroquinone concentrations, the CHBr3 formation increases during both chlorination and ozonation of the mixtures, except for chlorination of the mixture of hydroquinone and resorcinol. The formation of THMs during chlorination of the mixture of hydroquinone and resorcinol is similar to that of resorcinol alone due to the much faster reaction of HOX with resorcinol compared to hydroquinone. In general, PLFA seems to be a reasonable DOM surrogate to simulate CHBr3 formation for realistic ballast water treatment. During chlorination, CHBr3 formations from phenol- and PLFA-containing synthetic brackish waters are comparable, for similar phenol contents.

Enhancement of g-C3N4 cathode for inactivation of marine microorganisms in ZnWO4 photocatalytic system

Generated from photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) reaction systems, hydroxyl radicals can be applied for the treatment of ballast water contaminated with various microorganisms. However, main cathodic and hydrogen evolution reactions have no effect on the inactivation efficiency, which reduces the overall reaction efficiency. Inactivation efficiency can be improved by inducing the oxygen reduction reactions (ORRs) on a cathode. Oxygen can be reduced to H2O2 under 2e− reactions with ORR catalysts, and OH can be produced by H2O2 under ultraviolet (UV) irradiation, which is beneficial to microorganism deactivation. This work investigated the contributions of ORR in a graphene-like carbon nitride (g-C3N4) to the PEC activities of a ZnWO4 anode. Results indicated that microorganisms were deactivated completely after 18 min under 0.7 V bias potential when ORR was used on the g-C3N4 cathode, and thus approximately one of the total time was conserved. ORR on the g-C3N4 cathode plays a key role in PEC inactivation under low voltage potential. The g-C3N4 ORR in seawater involves two electron reactions and generates H2O2, which results in high inactivation efficiency under UV irradiation. This work shows that the search for an efficient 2e− reaction ORR catalyst is of considerable importance in improving ballast water treatment.

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.

Zooplankton sensitivity and phytoplankton regrowth for ballast water treatment with advanced oxidation processes.

The ballasting and de-ballasting of ships are two necessary operations with ballast water that provide stability for safe navigation. Empty ships must ballast tanks with water, which contains living organisms and subsequently carries them away from their original distribution. De-ballasting represents an input of still viable zooplankton, phytoplankton, and microorganisms in the destination port, leading to the introduction of alien species, and consequently, the introduction of organisms will alter the local biodiversity. Ballast water treatment is necessary to comply with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for the maximum viable organisms permitted. It is known that UVC eliminates microorganisms, but there are few studies on the other taxonomical groups, such as phytoplankton and zooplankton. The advance oxidation processes (AOPs) with UV-C can be a good alternative to manage the problem of ballast water, primarily for microorganisms. However, for larger organisms, there is more resistance, and, a stage with filtration (by physical filtration or hydrocyclone) is usually required. The filter can fail, or certain zooplankton organisms can escape across the filter and go to the AOPs or UVC reactor. According to the taxonomic group, there can be a different sensitivity to the treatment, and one could survive and generate a risk. The AOPs tested were natural solar radiation (RAD), UV/H2O2, UV/TiO2, UV/TiO2/H2O2, and UV/TiO2/H2O2/RAD. Natural sea water was pumped and treated with the AOPs. The vital zooplankton organisms counted were polychaetes, cladocerans, ostracods, nauplii and calanoid, cyclopoid, and harpacticoid copepods. For the phytoplankton, the abundance was estimated, and the photosystem II efficiency was determined. To evaluate the phytoplankton regrowth after the treatments, the treated water was stored and populations counted for 20days. The most effective treatment for the zooplankton groups was UVC/H2O2. Regarding the sensitivity, the cyclopoid copepods were the most resistant. The nauplii and polychaetes were more likely to be killed by the AOPs, greatly decreasing the risk from nauplii due to their abundance and ease of passing through the filters with their smaller size. Phytoplankton regrowth was observed in all treatments, and it even reached abundance values higher than in the intake water. For instance, additional dark conditions and retreatment on days 3 or 5 are suggested for any treatment.

Is the aquatic environment sufficiently protected from chemicals discharged with treated ballast water from vessels worldwide? – A decadal environmental perspective and risk assessment

Ballast water managements systems (BWMS) installed on vessels may use active substances to inactivate or kill organisms in the ballast water. This paper provides new insights in this global issue - discharge of hazardous disinfection by-products with ballast water and related risk assessment for the environment. Considering the possible extent of this issue, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) engaged the Joint Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Environmental Protection (GESAMP)-Ballast Water Working Group (BWWG) to oversee the evaluation process of BWMS that make use of active substances to prevent negative effects. We analysed all BWMS that received IMO final approval over a decade until 2017 and provide an overview of active substances used for ballast water treatment and disinfection by-products in the discharged ballast water. A risk assessment was conducted using the GESAMP-BWWG methodology for two very different commercial ports (Koper, Slovenia and Hamburg, Germany). Some relevant chemicals (chloropicrin, monochloroacetic acid, and dibromoacetonitrile) and other chemicals (isocyanuric acid and sodium thiosulphate) reached levels of concern, indicating a risk for aquatic organisms after discharge of that ballast water. From this analysis, it became clear GESAMP-BWWG worst-case scenario assumptions do not fully account for the potential environmental risks. We provide recommendations how to make this risk assessment more robust, recommend further research, and urge for policy as well as regulatory responses.

Long-term algal toxicity of oxidant treated ballast water

National and international regulations require that ships' ballast water is treated to minimize the risk of introducing potentially invasive species. A common approach employed by commercial ballast water management systems is chlorination. This study presents the algal toxicity findings for three chlorination-based BWMS and their implications to environmental safety of port waters receiving treated ballast water from ships. Discharged treated ballast water from all three BWMS was toxic to algae with IC25s (25% growth inhibition) ranging from 9.9% to 17.9%, despite having total residual oxidant concentrations below 0.02 mg/l, based on Whole Effluent Toxicity assays. When held at 4 °C, some of the ballast water samples continued to exhibit toxic effects with no observed effect concentrations as low as 18% after a 134 day holding time. Thirteen individual disinfection by-products were measured above the detected limit at the time of discharge. No correlation between DBPs and algal toxicity was observed.

A Study of Ballast Water Treatment Using Engine Waste Heat

Heat treatment of ballast water using engine waste heat can be an advantageous option complementing any proven technology. A treatment system was envisaged based on the ballast system of an existing, operational crude carrier. It was found that the available waste heat could raise the temperatures by 25 °C and voyage time requirements were found to be considerable between 7 and 12 days to heat the high volumes of ballast water. Further, a heat recovery of 14–33% of input energies from exhaust gases was recorded while using a test rig arrangement representing a shipboard arrangement. With laboratory level tests at temperature ranges of around 55–75 °C, almost complete species mortalities for representative phytoplankton, zooplankton and bacteria were observed while the time for exposure varied from 15 to 60 s. Based on the heat availability analyses for harvesting heat from the engine exhaust gases(vessel and test rig), heat exchanger designs were developed and optimized using Lagrangian method applying Bell–Delaware approaches. Heat exchanger designs were developed to suit test rig engines also. Based on these designs, heat exchanger and other equipment were procured and erected. The species’ mortalities were tested in this mini-scale arrangement resembling the shipboard arrangement. The mortalities realized were > 95% with heat from jacket fresh water and exhaust gases alone. The viability of the system was thus validated.

Comparison of Seawater and Freshwater Ultrafltration on Semi-Industrial Scale: Ballast Water Treatment Application

Non-native aquatic species can be introduced in new areas through emptying of the ballast tanks, with a high impact on health, economy and environment. This is considered by the International Maritime Organization (IMO): (i) in 2004, the IMO adopted the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments (BMW Convention) in order to diminish the risk of introducing harmful and/or potentially invasive species through ballast water. (ii) the BWM Convention entered into force on 8 September 2017 and could opens a new market for ballast water treatment. The aim for industry is to operate with an acceptable fouling rate between cleaning steps. Indeed, if fouling rates are low, clean in place will be infrequent. The aim of this work is to develop a sustainable ultrafiltration system designed for ballast water treatment and the first step is to have a better understanding of membrane fouling in relation to intake water variations. The major contribution and novelty of this study is successful ballast water treatment using an ultrafiltration process at industrial scale a high technological readiness level in order to show the applicability of the ultrafiltration processes for the ballast water treatment. In this study operating conditions were determined for seawater and freshwater conditions.

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.

Ballast water management system: Assessment of chemical quality status of several ports in Adriatic Sea

Oxidant treatment of ballast water (BW) is commonly used in BW systems in order to minimize the transport of alien species. The release of disinfection by-products (DBPs) associated to the treatment of BW and cross-contamination of butyltin (BT) compounds through BW discharge is a topic of environmental concern. A chemical port baseline survey has been conducted in seven ports of the Adriatic Sea. Analysis have been performed on transplanted mussels, surface sediment, seawater, BW. Results showed an evidence of BT contamination, particularly in sediments, probably related to their illegal usage or to intensive shipping activities. Therefore, BW may act as a vector and contribute to re-buildup of BT contamination in the coastal regions.A baseline set of data concerning DBPs is provided, showing the preferential distribution of these compounds in the marine environment that will be useful for future considerations on monitoring and assessment of chemical contamination associated with BW.

The Usage of Crumb Rubber Filtration and UV Radiation for Ballast Water Treatment

This research is aimed to build ship’s ballast water treatment prototipe that used to inactivate microbial water patogen in ballast water to produce unpolluted ballast water that can be standardised by IMO Ballast Water Management Convention. A simple concept that used in the development of this prototype is by draining ballast water with capacity at 5 lpm, 10 lpm and 20 lpm into alternative filtration crumb rubber and UV reactor. In the filtration process using crumb rubber, ballast water will be filtered with the precision filtration up to 50 micron, while in the UV reactor ballast water will be illuminated by UV-C with maksimum dose 16,58 mW/cm2. Finally,the study shows the performance of alternative filtration of crumb rubber and UV-C irradiation on microbial water phatogen, and at what UV-C dose ballast water treatment prototipe can inactivate microbial water phatogens, which are complying with IMO Ballast Water Management Convention ANNEX D. This research is aimed to build ship’s ballast water treatment prototipe that used to inactivate microbial water patogen in ballast water to produce unpolluted ballast water that can be standardised by IMO Ballast Water Management Convention. A simple concept that used in the development of this prototype is by draining ballast water with capacity at 5 lpm, 10 lpm and 20 lpm into alternative filtration crumb rubber and UV reactor. In the filtration process using crumb rubber, ballast water will be filtered with the precision filtration up to 50 micron, while in the UV reactor ballast water will be illuminated by UV-C with maksimum dose 16,58 mW/cm2. Finally,the study shows the performance of alternative filtration of crumb rubber and UV-C irradiation on microbial water phatogen, and at what UV-C dose ballast water treatment prototipe can inactivate microbial water phatogens, which are complying with IMO Ballast Water Management Convention ANNEX D. Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:Table Normal; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:Calibri,sans-serif; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Times New Roman; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language:IN;}

Validation of Engine Performance for Tests on Ballast Water Heat Treatment Using Engine Waste Heat

Heat treatment has been considered as a suitable option for treatment of ballast water. Utilising the waste heat from the diesel engine fresh water and exhaust gases would be an economic option. For recovering the heat from the exhaust gases, heat exchangers are required to be placed in their flow path. The sea water coolant after recovering heat from fresh water has to be directed to this heat exchanger for sterilisation. For testing the effectiveness of these heat recoveries on species’ mortalities, a mini-scale system was arranged and tests were carried out. The engine output and other flow rates were maintained to achieve a temperature range of 55 to 80 o C. Data was obtained from the sensors and probes fitted at relevant points. The engine performance was monitored with computerised control equipment. Operational data from five test runs were analysed and verified by two approaches. In the first approach, the heat recovered by the water was compared with the heat lost by the exhaust gases and the maximum variation was observed to be 3.4%. In the second approach, the input energies were computed using two different methods using data values of brake power, thermal efficiency, mass flows, calorific value and specific fuel consumption. A maximum variation of -11% was seen for only one test run, while for other tests the variation was between -0.7% to -1.7%. The values obtained from the connected probes and the computed results were thus validated and further tests on species were carried out.

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.

Effect of salinity on medium- and low-pressure UV disinfection of Vibrio cholerae.

The problem of biological invasions attributed to ballast water release is an ongoing problem that threatens ecosystems and human health. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation has been increasingly used for ballast water treatment mainly due to the advantages of short contact time and minimized harmful disinfection by products. In this study, the impact of salinity on the inactivation of Vibrio cholerae (NCTC 7253) was examined, and comparison of inactivation level and disinfection kinetics after medium-pressure (MP) (1 kW) and low-pressure (LP) (10 W) UV irradiation was made. MP UV exposure resulted in higher inactivation efficacy against V. cholerae than LP UV exposure especially at lower UV doses (≤3 mJ cm-2) and salinity had a negative impact on both MP and LP UV disinfection, especially at higher UV doses (≥3 mJ cm-2 for MP and ≥4 mJ cm-2 for LP). To understand the mechanisms of salinity effect on V. cholerae, the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was employed to determine the number of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs), one major type of DNA damage. No significant effects of salinity were found at the CPDs level except for 3% artificial seawater after LP UV exposure case. It is imperative that site-specific conditions of salinity be taken into account in the design of UV reactors to treat V. cholerae and other species.

Inactivation of Scrippsiella trochoidea cysts by different physical and chemical methods: Application to the treatment of ballast water

Effects of heating, ultraviolet (UV), ultrasound (US), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and freshwater, and the combined treatments on inactivation of cysts of Scrippsiella trochoidea and cysts in sediment suspension were studied. Heating was the most efficient way to inactivate cyst germination, and cysts were completely inactivated at 38°C for 5h. UV, US, and freshwater efficiently inhibited but could not completely inactivate cyst germination. Effects of heating, UV, and US on cyst germination decreased for cysts in sediment, and germination rates increased by 6.7–48% compared to the same treatment for cysts without sediment. H2O2 significantly inhibited cyst germination, but complete inactivation occurred at high concentration for long duration (100mg/L, 6d). The combined treatments were more effective, especially the combinations of heating and UV. The results suggested that heating might be a feasible way for ballast water treatment especially after combined with filtration and UV.

Heavy metal levels of ballast waters in commercial ships entering Bushehr port along the Persian Gulf

In this study we report the concentration levels of heavy metals (including Pb, Cd, Hg, Cr, Ni, Fe, Mn, Cu) in ballast water of commercial ships, entering Bushehr port for the first time in the region of the Persian Gulf. The concentration levels of Cu and Fe in all samples of the ballast water were higher compared with the coastal waters of Bushehr port. In the case of Cd, 76.47% of samples had higher concentration level compared with the coastal waters of Bushehr port. Results showed that in a long term the ballast water has the potential to change the chemical quality in marine environments and also may affect the human health and marine ecosystem where ships discharge their ballast water. Therefore, permanent monitoring as well as treatment of ballast water before discharging is crucial to keep the marine environment health.

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.