Page 30: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (August 2015)

BALLAST WATER TECHNOLOGY

Ballast Water Ballast Water

Treatment: Treatment:

Are You on Course for Compliance?

BY GEOFF TAYLOR PSM KATIE DAVAGE CHELSEA

INSTRUMENTATION TECHNOLOGIES GROUP

Joined up thinking from two marine technology suppliers addresses impending legislation for Ballast Water Treatment and offers a practical solution for monitoring and recording the correct discharge of ballast water, in real-time.

he International Maritime Or- ganizations 2004 Ballast Wa- ter Management Convention

T lays down strict guidelines for the treatment and discharge of ballast water. Already in force as of January 1, 2015 in U.S. waters, universal rati? ca- tion is expected to occur during the next six months. The new legislation, which will require tens of thousands of ships to be retro? tted with new systems for Bal- last Water Treatment, has caused much debate within the marine industry.

To date, discussion has largely centered around which type of treatment technol- ogy is most suited to the task. However, this has overshadowed two very impor- tant aspects of the new regulations which must form part of the overall treatment regime in order to be effective in ensur- ing environmental compliance: point of discharge measurement and recording and reporting of treatment activities.

The new rules are governed by strict liability laws, meaning that operators or owners can be considered guilty without ? nding of fault. The authorities need only prove that the event occurred, with vessel owners being held responsible for the discharge. Consequently there is a very real need for a measurement and recording system that quickly and reli- ably reports on the ef? cacy of the ballast water treatment plant.

A new joint development between PSM

Instrumentation and Chelsea Technolo- gies Group aims to address these impor- tant issues and to provide clear evidence of compliance when required to do so.

30 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • AUGUST 2015

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