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pose to your potential vendor. MarPro has listed (some of) the more important considerations below: The ManufacturerArguably, as much attention should be paid to the staying power, Þ nancial stability, global reach (partnerships) and via- bility of a particular vendor as you might give to the quality of their BWT product. Some Þ rms have been in the billion dollar BWT game for more than a decade and some are just coming to the table, as evidenced by the explosion in the numbers of type-approved systems in the last Þ ve years alone. ThatÕs not to say that a new player canÕt get the job done. More impor- tantly, though, will your vendor be around in Þ ve years? Is BWT just a passing trend for them or is it the sector where they have earned their reputation? Finally, ask yourself (and them): Do they have the infrastructure to service your equip- ment in a timely manner when something goes wrong?Research Third party studies of any technology Ð the Maritime Envi- ronmental Research Center (MERC) at the University of Maryland, for example Ð are a good source of impartial data. Research ß ag state and IMO approvals Ð making sure your prospective system is approved in the regions you are likely to transit could be important. It might also be mandatory. Given the potential size of this market, it should not be a surprise that manufacturers, particularly those just entering the game, might rush development efforts and go to market with equip- ment that might not have been adequately tested in a wide range of water types and marine environments. And, the Cali- fornia State Lands Commission report states, ÒÉ we mention in the reports that classiÞ cation society requirements play a role and must be taken into account when selecting a BWMS. But most of the class approvals are for safety or mechanical issues and our focus has been on the biological efÞ cacy of the systems. So we mainly report on approvals that deal with ef- Þ cacy, and also water quality concerns.Ó Due Diligence / Pilot ProgramStandardization drives efÞ ciency. ThatÕs a fact. You really donÕt want to be dealing with multiple brands and types of systems. Get two BWMS of the same type, vet them, and then standardize across the breadth of your homogenous ß eet. Use this Òpilot programÓ to then lock in long term contracts and then secure favorable pricing. Those who wait too long wonÕt enjoy the pricing that todayÕs robust competition provides and may not be able procure the numbers of units that they need at times of peak demand. Even if you are not willing to go all in at this point, it is important to dip your toes into the water. Warranty What kind warranty does your manufacturer provide? Do they have the viability to back it up? Do they provide a spares kit with installation? Coverage can be negotiable, depending on deal size. It is here where global reach (partnerships) will be-come very important. WATER MANAGEMENT The Maritime Research Center?s (MERC) barge-based mobile test platform. 34 Maritime Professional 3Q 2012MP #3 34-49.indd 34MP #3 34-49.indd 348/15/2012 10:37:05 AM8/15/2012 10:37:05 AM