The 2013 Vessel General Permit will not be reissued prior to its December 18, 2018 expiration date but will be administratively continued and remain in effect until a new permit is issued (tentatively scheduled for Spring 2019). For vessels currently without permit coverage the EPA strongly encourages owners/operators of eligible vessels to seek permit coverage […]

The GloFouling Partnerships project – a collaboration between the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) – is a new international program set in place to review and recommend regulations to lessen the transfer of invasive organisms that contaminate pipes and other underwater surfaces. According to […]

The United States (U.S.) will be changing regulation of discharges from vessels, including ballast water. The law will reauthorize U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) programs including major changes to US ballast water management (BWM) regulations and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Vessel General Permit – through the Vessel Incidental Discharge Act (VIDA).  The bill was signed […]

The United States Coast Guard has type approved the Hyundai Heavy Industries’ HiBallast ballast water management system. HiBallast is a side stream system combined with filter and electrolysis unit. The new HiBallast system is the second ballast water treatment system that Hyundai Heavy has developed. In addition, DESMI Ocean Guard and Wartsila Water Systems have submitted applications […]

The International Maritime Organization 73rd Marine Environmental Protection Committee (MEPC 73) meeting was a busy session with most of the focus on the 2020 Sulfur Cap date and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions. Significant actions were taken for ballast water management as well as some new discussions for the marine industry.  A summary of the resulting […]

The Department of State (DOS) issued a notice stating that an open meeting will be held on 18 October in Washington, DC to prepare for the upcoming session of the IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 73). Topics on the agenda include harmful aquatic organisms in ballast water; air pollution and energy efficiency; and reduction of […]

During BWMTech North America, Mr. Jack Faulk, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) addressed the expiration of the current 2013 Vessel General Permit (VGP) and the release of the 2018 VGP.  The draft 2018 VGP will not be published by expiration of the 2013 VGP on December 18, 2018.  The EPA has determined that the 2013 […]

On October 1, 2018 the Coast Guard is eliminating the requirement for certain vessels that operate on voyages exclusively within a single Captain of the Port Zone to submit an Annual Ballast Water Summary Report for calendar year 2018. We view this current reporting requirement as unnecessary for us to analyze and understand ballast water […]

The Coast Guard Marine Safety Center issued the 10th Ballast Water Management System Type Approval Certificate to Wartsila Water Systems, Ltd.  After a detailed review of the manufacturer’s type approval application, the MSC determined the system met the requirements of 46 CFR 162.060. The treatment principle of the Wartsila Aquarius EC BWMS consists of filtration with electrolysis […]

For the most part, U.S. or foreign Flag vessels equipped with ballast tanks that have performed a ballast operation in the United States must submit a Ballast Water Management Report to the National Ballast Information Clearinghouse (NBIC), in most cases up to six hours after arrival. As part of the report, ship operators must indicate […]