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Balast Water Management
Balast Water Management
The carrying of additional weight onboard a ship as "ballast" goes back well over 100
years. The primary purpose of ships carrying ballast onboard is to manipulate the center
of gravity and center of buoyancy, to improve the stability of the vessel. However, the
use of ballast also allows for manipulation of the draught, heel, and trim of the vessel
where required.
In the olden days, stone, sand, or iron was used as the primary ballast onboard. In more
recent times, water has been used as ballast, carried within purposely designated
"ballast tanks." The ready availability of water provided a significantly more economic
and efficient method of ballasting ships
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Lecture 2.1- Invasive species the problem
Whilst ballast water is a critical aspect of the safe operation of ships, many studies have
shown that the aquatic organisms have taken onboard from the surrounding water at
the point of "ballasting" can, and do, survive the ship's voyage, and are subsequently
discharged in a foreign location during the "de-ballasting" of the ship.
With likely over 35,000 ballast-carrying vessels sailing on frequent international
voyages, taking on ballast water in one location and discharging in another, it is
estimated that an average of 7,000 different aquatic species are transported in ships'
ballast water each year.
Subsequent discharge of ballast water with thriving aquatic species to foreign waters is
severely hazardous to the marine environment, as the foreign species can quickly
become predators to the local species, spreading efficiently and often, rapidly.
Whatsmore, the transfer of viruses and airborne toxins can cause significant risks to
human health, and has done in the past.
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Lecture 2.2- Examples of Invasive species
Invasive alien species are recognized as one of the greatest threats to biodiversity
globally - causing serious environmental and health impacts, as well as resultant
commercial consequences.
In marine and coastal environments, invasive species have been identified as one of the
four greatest threats to the world's oceans along with land-based sources of marine
pollution, over-exploitation of living marine resources and physical
alteration/destruction of marine habitats.
Some examples of invasive species include:
Lecture 2.2.1
local, native species of crab, fish & shellfish for food. They are also known to predicate
on local, native species.
Native to: Eastern Asia
Found in: Northern Europe & North America
Problem Created: Compete with and predicate on native species
Lecture 2.2.2
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Problem Created: Seriously disrupts local aquatic lifecycle & clogging/fouling of
civil/industrial sites
Lecture 2.3
Lecture 4.1
BALLAST WATER EXCHANGE
Ballast water exchange, in compliance with the D-1 standard, is a temporary measure
introduced by the IMO BWM Convention, to reduce the spread of harmful aquatic
organisms in lieu of worldwide compliance with D-2.
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The process of ballast water exchange involves the substitution of the water in the
vessel's ballast tanks using one of the following methods:
Sequential method Flow-through method Dilution method
Sequential Method:
The sequential method of ballast water exchange is a process by which a ballast tank
intended for carriage of ballast water is first emptied and then refilled with replacement
ballast water to achieve at least a 95% volumetric exchange.
Flow-Through Method:
The flow-through method consists of pumping in additional water to overfill the tanks. It
has been established that it is necessary to pump in three times the volume of the tank
to achieve a 95% change of water.
Dilution Method:
The dilution method is a process by which replacement ballast water is filled through the
top of the ballast tank, with simultaneous discharge from the bottom of the tank. It is
critical that the same flow rate is maintained during filling and discharge, and that a
constant level in the tank is maintained throughout the ballast exchange operation.
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IMO Requirements
The IMO requirements state that any exchange procedures must be carried out,
whenever possible, at least 200 nautical miles from the nearest land, and in water at
least 200 metres in depth. Where that is not possible, the procedures must be at least
50 nautical miles from the nearest land, and, again, in water at least 200 metres in
depth.
However, at MEPC 71 in July 2017, agreements were made to allow vessels that are
"geographically constrained" in complying with the geographical requirements of the D- I
standard, to simply record the justification for being unable to comply in their record
book, and continue trading.
Key Ballast Water Exchange Considerations
Ballast exchange procedures can have adverse effects on the shear strength and
bending moments of the vessel, particularly on vessels which are sensitive to
longitudinal strength - such as tankers and bulk carriers.
In addition to this, the procedures could result in slack water within the tanks, with
additional free surface moment impacting the vessel's dynamic stability. It is therefore
crucial that the ballast water management plans be developed, implemented and
operated with the vessel's safety in mind. It is for this reason that the IMO developed the
G4 guidelines; titled “Guidelines for ballast water management and development of
ballast water management plans," which outline the specific stability and strength
calculations that must be checked during the development of a vessel's ballast water
management plan.
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Many of the filter technologies used in BWMS also have the ability to automatically
back-flush the filter mesh using a proportion of the incoming ballast water flow.
In addition to physical filters, some BWMS make use of other/additional filtration
technologies such as hydro cyclonic separators which use centrifugal force to separate
different density matter and organisms from the ballast water. Others make use of other
technologies such as flocculation or coagulation.
Ultraviolet (UV) Treatment: Arguably the most commonly used disinfection technology,
UV treatment uses UV lamps to break down cell membranes - killing (or rendering
unviable) the organisms. The effectiveness of UV disinfection can depend on the
turbidity of the ballast water, as this impacts the ability of the UV lamps to transmit the
UV light through particularly heavily sedimented water.
Electro-Chlorination Treatment: Electro-chlorination is a method whereby an electrical
current is applied to the sea-water, generating free chlorine, sodium hypochlorite,
hydroxyl radicals and additional by-products. In BWMS applications, the process is
typically conducted on a low volume side stream of the ballast water during ballasting
operations, where 1 to 2 percent of the ballast water is routed through the electro-
chlorination system and back in to the ballast flow - treating the entirety of the ballast
water thereafter, although some "full flow" electro-chlorination systems are available on
the market. On de-ballasting electro-chlorination systems typically require a
neutralisation agent be applied to the discharging ballast water, and are less effective in
waters of lower salinity - as salinity is a key part of the chemical process.
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Ozone Treatment: Ozone treatment essentially produces ozone and injects it into the
ballast water. In fresh water the ozone decomposes, creating strong oxidants which
destroy organisms. In sea water, the ozone forms highly effective biocides which
destroy organisms.
Chemical Treatment: The injection of chemicals into the ballast water to destroy
organisms is a method used by a small number of BWMS manufacturers - with the
common chemical of choice being chlorine dioxide. Chemical based systems offer
comparatively lower cost treatment per m3 of ballast water, but present additional
difficulties in the bunkering, storage and safe handling of potentially volatile chemicals.
Lecture 4.3
ALTERNATIVE COMPLIANCE METHODS
With the significant capital expense in mind, many alternative methods of compliance
have been developed over the past few years. These alternatives often offer
commercially or technically more attractive compliance solutions that those of
conventional BWMS retrofits, and can loosely be broken down into the following groups:
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•
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Mobile Solutions
Port Solutions
Legislative Solutions Operational Solutions
Other Solutions
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Mobile Solutions
Mobile ballast water treatment systems are now, finally, coming to the fold and
represent one of the most commercially efficient methods of compliance - but only for
owners of particular types of vessels, or vessels operating on fixed trading routes.
Indeed, mobile ballast water management solution provider, Ballast Water Containers,
claims that mobile treatment solutions could save vessel owners up to 80% of their
compliance costs.
Mobile treatment systems are particularly suitable for vessels with low utilisation - such
as barges, or minimal, and predictable, ballasting operations - such as fixed route
container vessels, liner services etc. An owner investing in a small number of mobile
treatment systems, theoretically, could share them between multiple vessels - avoiding
having to retrofit each vessel individually.
Mobile treatment systems offer the flexibility to be stored in various ports, and
temporarily mobilised to the vessels as they call in - again, avoiding the need to retrofit
each vessel.
Mobile treatment systems, however, would be highly unlikely to be suitable for vessels
that conduct ballast operations frequently, or are involved in irregular trade.
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Port Solutions
Beyond traditional retrofitting, a permanent (or semi-permanent) port based treatment
system offers many vessel owners and operators with a convenient, and presumably
cost effective, method of compliance. Companies such as Damen, who have developed
their InvaSave port based treatment option, are seeking to offer the industry port based
solutions.
With many other effluents and discharges from vessels handled by shore based
treatment systems, the concept makes sense - however, where the concept is let down,
is its likely lack of global availability.
With ballast water management compliance such an important aspect of day to day
vessel operation, owners and operators are currently averse to relying on third party
service companies, around the world, to manage their ballast water for them. Lack of
availability in a specific port, for example, would render the vessel unable to discharge
ballast.
Things also start to get particularly complicated when ballast water management
legislation is applied. In the USA, for example, effluents discharged from a vessel to a
shore based facility, are thereafter governed by the Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA), which has a completely different set of requirements to those of the USCG, and
which, to date, have still to be determined for ballast water.
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Legislative Solutions
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Similarly, for vessels such as barges, that only ever conduct ballast operations in one
particular body of water at a time (for loading/unloading heavy lift cargoes), owners or
operators could, theoretically, achieve compliance by segregating their tanks and
ensuring tanks are always fully emptied (and cleaned if required) prior to leaving a
particular geographic location.
Operational compliance solutions are always worth investigating, as minimal impact
operational changes may present ideal compliance solutions - and avoid significant
investment.
Other Solutions
Even within the term "alternative ballast water management compliance," there are
some solutions that do not fall under any sub-category. Concepts such as using potable
water, theoretically represent a convenient compliance solution - avoiding significant
capital investment. However, owners and operators should ensure they understand the
implications of ballasting/de-ballasting using shore provided potable water. Such
infrastructure is often unreliable, with varying, and often very low, flow rates - which can
have a significant impact on vessel ballasting operations.
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One final alternative concept, which the industry has not discussed at length, is the idea
of re-using ballast water that has already been treated. Of course, for some
technologies this is not a viable solution (UV for example is sensitive to the issues of re-
growth), but for technologies that have ongoing residual treatment effects - re-using
already treated ballast water between different vessels seems like a sensible, and
environmentally friendly, proposition. Of course, the practicalities, both technically and
commercially, may be difficult to overcome, as could the legislative constraints, but it is
an intriguing solution nonetheless.
Lecture 5.1-PLANNING FOR COMPLIANCE
The ballast water management plan (BWMP) which is required to be held onboard and
followed as part of the ballast water management process, will outline the required
steps for compliance. Beyond this, however, there are a number of critical
considerations worth addressing when planning for compliance.
Regional/Environmental Considerations
Any information provided by the local port state concerning known areas where ballast
water should not be taken onboard or discharged
·
The current and anticipated weather conditions
Local anchorage/pilotage/berthing timelines and/or requirements
Any local designated areas for BWE or BWT
Sampling / measurement requirements
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Engineers
The engineers will be responsible for the technical condition and ongoing functionality of
the ballast water management systems onboard. The engineers must have a thorough
working knowledge of any ballast water management systems onboard, as well as the
vessels existing ballast system onboard - including pumps, valves, control, automation,
tanks and operation.
It is critical that the engineering department ensure any and all other engineering related
works ongoing onboard do not adversely affect the ability of the vessel to safely conduct
ballast water management - and ensure the designated officer is kept abreast of all
such scenarios at all times.
The engineers will likely conduct regular checks of the equipment as per the
manufacturer's maintenance schedule and on random basis or under designated officer
request.
Lecture 5.4:-
DOCUMENTATION & REPORTING
Both the IMO BWM Convention and the USCG Final Rule require specific
documentation be carried onboard each ship, and that each ship carry out reporting on
its respective ballast operations accordingly.
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Ballast Water Management Plan (BWMP)
It is a requirement of both the IMO BWM Convention and USCG Final Rule that each
ship shall have on board and implement a BWMP. Such a plan shall be approved by the
Administration taking into account Guidelines developed by IMO and USCG.
Each BWMP shall be tailored to the respective ship and shall at least:
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·
·
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•
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detail safety procedures for the ship and the crew associated with ballast water
management
provide a detailed description of the actions to be taken to implement the ballast water
management requirements
detail the procedures for the disposal of sediments at sea and to shore include the
procedures for coordinating shipboard ballast water management that involves
discharge to the sea with the authorities of the State into whose waters such discharge
will take place
designate the officer on board in charge of ensuring that ballast water management and
the BWMP is correctly implemented
contain the reporting requirements
be written in the working language of the ship. If the language used is not
English, French or Spanish, a translation into one of these languages shall be included.
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The indicative analysis involved a compliance test that is qick, and can be either a direct
or indirect measurement of a representative sample of the ballast water. The time
required to conduct an indicative analysis should not unduly delay the operations or
departure of the ship.
In the event of the indicative analysis exceeding the permissible discharge criteria for
the relevant legislation, by a predetermined threshold pertinent to the analysis method
utilized, a detailed analysis can be carried out.
The detailed analysis essentially involves a validated compliance test, using a test
method or analysis that is a direct measurement of a representative sample. Such
detailed analysis aims to accurately quantify the concentration of the viable organisms
in the ballast water volume.
Lecture 6.2-OBTAINING SAMPLES
Ballast water samples are typically obtained using the ballast water sampling point
onboard. Such sampling points are a necessary Class approval point during any retrofit
installations of BWT systems. Where a ballast water sampling point is not installed, the
samples may be taken directly from a relevant ballast tank.
The location of suitable access points for sampling ballast should be described in the
ship's BWMP. This will likely include lists of sampling points, or diagrams of the type
and arrangement of sampling points onboard.