The EPA will offer a webinar on the details of VIDA requirements on May 15, 2019 and a listening session with webinar, a focus on specific discharges and an opportunity for public input on May 29-30, 2019 at Kings Point, NY.

In cooperation with sister company NETSCo, CHOICE Ballast Solutions (CHOICE) is pleased to announce that there are more than 30 ballast water management system (BWMS) projects in varying stages of completion. CHOICE together with NETSCo are positioned to become one of the top BWMS planning, compliance consulting and installation resources worldwide. CHOICE provides end-to-end BWMS solutions […]

The U.S. Coast Guard issued a release stating it has reconsidered its stance on ‘next scheduled drydocking date’ for ballast water management systems (BWMS) compliance. As stated in the bulletin, “Vessels that have received an extension of the ballast water compliance date that was stipulated as the “first scheduled drydock after (date)” and subsequently experience […]

Complying with the latest environmental regulations has never been more important! Debra DiCianna, Senior Compliance Engineer at Choice Ballast Solutions (Choice) will be speaking at the Scrubbers and Ballast Water Systems for Superintendents and Ship Managers on March 13, 2019 in Limassol, Cyprus. More than 170 ship managers and industry experts plan to be in […]

Effective January 22, 2019 the China Maritime Safety Administration (China MSA) will enforce it’s ballast water regulations for all foreign-Flagged vessels that come into Chinese waters. China MSA ratified the BWM Convention in 2018 so requirements for compliance are, for the most part, those of the IMO BWM Convention. One of the differences in the […]

Ship owners must take care if they are to avoid buying and installing ballast water management systems with high flaw rates. Stevie Knight of Motorship magazine explores recently exposed reliability challenges [with shipyards choosing & installing ballast water management systems (BWMS)]. DiCianna notes that when Choice Ballast has carried out inspections on failures, one of […]

An update regarding a notification from October 10, 2018 indicating that EPA would be late in reissuing the 2013 VGP guidelines and issued new deadlines for Notices of Intent (NOI) for coverage under that permit (as reported by the Choice blog, click here). The update states that as a result of VIDA, NOIs can be […]

The list of Ballast Water Management Systems approved by the USCG now offers has a complete range of treatment technologies and ballast water flow rates options. The Marine Safety Center issued the 14th U.S. Coast Guard Ballast Water Management System Type Approval Certificate to Panasia Co., Ltd. The treatment technology of the GloEn-Patrol BWMS consists of filtration […]

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 […]

In preparation for feasibility studies and engineering designs and drawings, Choice is proud to announce the completion of a series of scrubber and ballast water management engineering surveys and 3D laser scans for major shipowners in the maritime industry. John P. Dooley, President of Choice said, “The integration of a scrubber is a major conversion […]

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 […]

Choice Ballast Solutions (Choice) announced their expanded collaboration with Scorpio Ship Management S.A.M., as agent for certain vessel-owning subsidiaries of Scorpio Tankers Inc., by contracting to provide turn-key integration engineering and project management services for ballast water management system installations on board an additional 39 vessels. The previous contract with Scorpio Tankers on twelve ships […]

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 […]

  Choice Ballast Solutions is proud to announce that Debra DiCianna will moderate a panel today on “Addressing Inoperability in BWM Systems.” On 27 September she will give a case study presentation titled, “Ensure your Installed BWMS is the Type Approved Model and Meets Regulatory Requirements.” If you are unable to attend the BWMTech North […]

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 […]

Choice Ballast Solutions is pleased to announce that Debra DiCianna is participating on the panel, “Preparing for Ballast Water Treatment” at the SMM Global Maritime Environmental Congress workshop on 5 September 2018. We are looking forward to seeing you at SMM!

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 […]

Choice Ballast Solutions was recently contracted by Scorpio Ship Management S.A.M., as agent for certain vessel-owning subsidiaries of Scorpio Tankers Inc. to provide Engineering and Project Management to retrofit the Ecochlor ballast water management system (BWMS) on 12 of their vessels. The engineering is underway, and retrofits are scheduled to commence during each vessel’s next […]

Captain Jennifer F. Williams, Director of Inspections and Compliance for the U.S. Coast Guard, address about 250 members of the international shipping community last month during Korea Maritime Week. Williams presentation was part of a three-part Ballast Water Forum session titled “Challenges and tasks for the smooth implementation of the Ballast Water Convention.” Williams’s remarks centered […]

The UK has not yet ratified the Convention but is currently drafting the legislation that will allow compliance to the Convention to take place. An FAQ was released 11 July 2018 that includes: What ships must comply to the Convention Survey and Certification requirements Can ballast water exchange be done in UK waters D2 implementation […]

A communication has been sent to the IMO from the Regional Activity Centre/Regional Marine Pollution Emergency, Information and Training Centre – Wider Caribbean Region  which include: Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guyana, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, […]

Expert thinking on the gender perspective in leadership Industry leaders were asked, “Given the ongoing discussion for the role of women in shipping, do you think that we need more females in leadership roles or more leaders acting on a female mode and why?” In addition to Debra DiCianna, Senior Compliance Engineer at Choice Ballast […]

“The Coast Guard is increasing its focus on enforcement and compliance,” stated Rear Adm. John Nadeau.  “. . . we are actively enforcing the requirement. Every domestic and Port State Control exam assesses compliance, and failure of the exam may result in penalties. Marine inspectors will verify crew knowledge of the equipment, examine the condition […]

 Rear Adm. John Nadeau, assistant commandant for prevention policy, speaks about the role of the regulator in the context of ballast water management regulations. In 2017, Port State Control examiners documented 220 ballast water management deficiencies. Most were related to incomplete record keeping, lack of a sufficient ballast water management plan, or discharge of untreated ballast […]

Debra DiCianna, Senior Compliance Engineer at Choice Ballast Solutions (Choice) is a featured speaker at the 6th annual Ballast Water Workshop in Hamburg (30 May) and Leer, Germany (31 May) for the German Shipowners Association (VDR). Debra will present, “Navigating Compliance in the U.S. and BWMS Options.”

The U.S. Senate on Wednesday voted down the Coast Guard reauthorization bill that contained a provision exempting ships’ ballast water from Clean Water Act regulations. Read the entire article at the Duluth News Tribune.    

Intertanko has published a guide to contingency options when ballast water treatment is not an option. The 19-page guide, Ballast Water Contingency Measures for Tankers, is now available to the public. Download guide here.