The latest Great Lakes / Seaway Review article concerning the inconsistency in environmental regulations in the Great Lakes was co-written by Debra DiCianna, Senior Compliance Engineer, Choice Ballast Solutions and Richard Mueller, President/CEO of NETSCo, Inc. with a focus on the expanded requirements in both the U.S. and Canada regarding ballast water management regulations.   […]

Excerpts from https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-releases-proposal-better-protect-ecosystems-incidental-discharges-marine-vessels (10/6/20) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed standards to reduce the environmental impact of discharges, such as ballast water, that are incidental to the normal operation of commercial vessels. When finalized, this new rule will streamline the current patchwork of federal, state, and local requirements that apply to the commercial vessel [...]

The BWMS Code has specific requirements for BWMS testing, test reporting, type approval certificates, and control and monitoring. All BWMS installed onboard ships on or after 28 October 2020 will need to be approved in accordance with the BWMS Code (IMO Resolution MEPC.300(72).  The BWMS Code revokes the existing 2016 Guidelines (MEPC.279(70)) and previous guidelines […]

The USCG has issued its 34th Ballast Water Management System Type Approval to the Kuraray Microfade II BWTS. The treatment principle of the Kuraray MICROFADE II Ballast Water Treatment System consists of filtration with chemical injection treatment at uptake and neutralization during discharge. This approval covers six models with maximum treatment rated capacities between 250 m3/h and 2,000 […]

All BWMS installed onboard ships on or after 28 October, 2020 will need to be approved for use in accordance with the BWMS Code or 2016 Guidelines (New G8). It is in the shipowner’s best interests to find out how this might affect them. Removal or replacement of the BWMS installed before enforcement of the […]

The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has voted to investigate a complaint from the Lake Carriers Association (LCA) that claims the proposed Transport Canada (an agency of the Government of Canada) ballast water regulations will discriminate against US flag vessel operators. In the petition, LCA alleges that Transport Canada has proposed regulations that would require their […]

The US Coast Guard (USCG) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.  The Coast Guard proposed to expand its regulations on vessel financial responsibility to apply to all tank vessels great than 100 gross tons and to make other amendments that clarify and update reporting requirements, reflect current practice and remove unnecessary regulations. The proposed rule […]

The United States Coast Guard (USCG) has recently issued a Ballast Water Management System (BWMS) Type Approval Certificate to Miura Co., Ltd, Techcross, and Semb-Eco Pte, Ltd. Miura Co., Ltd., HK-(E)R Treatment technology: Filtration/Ultraviolet USCG Type Approval Certificate Country: Japan Techcross, ECS-HYCHLOR Treatment technology: Filtration/Electrochlorination USCG Type Approval Certificate Country: Korea Semb-Eco Pte Ltd., LUV […]

On April 9, 2020, the USCG published MSIB 14-20 “COVID-19: Ballast Water Management (BWM) Extensions” due to disruptions in the supply chain and workforce due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  The USCG has developed guidance based on the length of time needed for the extensions. Extensions requests up to 12 months – Applications will need to […]

The U.S. Coast Guard issued its 26th Ballast Water Management System Type Approval Certificate to BAWAT A/S. The treatment technology of the BAWAT BWMS MK2 consists of heat treatment during ballasting, de-ballasting, or internal transfers. This approval covers models with maximum intake treatment rated capacities between 50 m3/h and 5,000 m3/h. A complete list of […]