FACTS ABOUT BALLAST WATER MANAGEMENT THAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships Ballast Water and Sediments 2004

Adopted on: 13 February 2004

Entry into force: 12 months after ratification by 30 States, representing 35 per cent of world merchant shipping tonnage.

Aim of Ballast Water Management

To prevent, minimize and ultimately eliminate the transfer of harmful aquatic organisms and pathogens through the control and management of ships ballast water and sediments.

We all know that even though oil spills cause extensive damage to the marine environment, the environment always recovers. Examples are: The beaches in Britanny are back to their original pristine condition after the spill caused by AMOCO CADIZ (1978) and the fisheries in Valdez bay are back to their original productivity after the spill caused by EXXON VALDEZ (1989).

Conversely, we know that European Zebra Mussel, which travelled from European waters to the Great Lakes, via ships ballast water, are now clogging the various drain outlets and this causes major expenses to industry and there is no solution to this problem.  

Starfish which have travelled to Australian waters have done irreversible damage to the world-famous coral islands of the Great Barrier Reef.

Why is Ballast water management required?

Most of the species carried in the ballast water of the ships, do not survive in the hostile atmosphere (No light, less oxygen, sloshing in the tank, etc) present in the ballast tanks. But those that do survive, are the hardiest and manage to survive in the new environment where they are discharged with the ballast water. They also may not have natural predators in the new surroundings, there-by multiplying fast and affecting the local species.

The impacts can be divided in three types;

Ecological: The invading species may destroy some of the native species thereby affecting the natural balance.

Economical: They may affect the local fisheries, tourism, commercial activities,  and other associated industries.

Human health: When pathogens, harmful organisms are introduced in the system, they may enter the food chain and seriously affect human health.

EXAMPLE:

Options available for BWM

* Mechanical and Physical treatment such as filtration, separation and sterilisation using ozone,

* Ultra-violet light, electric currents and heat treatment.

* Chemical treatment such as adding biocides to ballast water to kill organisms.

All these possibilities currently require significant further research. Any control measure that is developed must meet a number of criteria, including:

• It must be environmentally acceptable.
• It must be safe.
• It must be cost-effective.
• It must work

Watch this video for a better understanding

Why is Ozone (O3) the best option?

* O3 primarily used to disinfect water

* O3 reacts with seawater to create iodine and hydrobromus acid to kill bacteria, viruses and marine organisms

* Interaction of O3 and seawater is unstable. Once disinfected, the seawater returns to the original state

* Treatment by O3 is non-corrosive, ballast water can be safely discharged without harm to local aquatic life.

Preliminary test results after O3 treatment

* Kills in excess of 99.9% bacteria in 5 hours

* 90% kill rate of zooplankton after 10 hours

* 85-90% kill rate of small fish and crabs

* Toxicity of ozonated seawater very low and no problem for immediate discharge

How is Ozone generated on the vessel?

* Stream of O2 enriched air passes between two electrodes. Electric arc created in electrodes. Resulting O3 created is piped to ballast tanks and released into ballast water via diffusers

BWM Implementation

Ships constructed before 2009:

Ballast water capacity of between 1500 and 5000 cubic metres must conduct ballast water management that at least meets the ballast water exchange standards or the ballast water performance standards until 2014, after which time it shall at least meet the ballast water performance standard.

Ballast water capacity of less than 1500 or greater than 5000 cubic metres must conduct ballast water management that at least meets the ballast water exchange standards or the ballast water performance standards until 2016, after which time it shall at least meet the ballast water performance standard.

Ballast water capacity < 5000 cu.m

     Ships constructed in or after 2009, must conduct ballast water management that at least meets the ballast water performance standard.

Ballast water capacity => 5000 cu.m:-

     -Ships constructed in or after 2009 but before 2012, shall conduct ballast water management that at least meets the standard described in regulation D-1 or D-2 until 2016 and at least the ballast water performance standard after 2016.

     -Ships constructed in or after 2012, shall conduct ballast water management that at least meets the ballast water performance standard.

Ballast Water Exchange

Whenever possible,  ballast water exchange to be conducted, at least 200 nautical miles from the nearest land and in water at least 200 metres in depth.

In cases where the ship is unable to conduct ballast water exchange as above, this should be as far from the nearest land as possible, and in all cases at least 50 nautical miles from the nearest land and in the water at least 200 metres in depth.

Alternative areas

When the requirements for minimum distance from land and/or depth, for BWM cannot be met, areas may be designated where ships can conduct ballast water exchange. All ships shall remove and dispose of sediments from spaces designated to carry ballast water in accordance with the provisions of the ships ballast water management plan (Regulation B-4).

Regulation D-1 Ballast Water Exchange Standard

Ships performing Ballast Water exchange shall do so with an efficiency of 95 per cent volumetric exchange of Ballast Water. For ships exchanging ballast water by the pumping-through method, pumping through three times the volume of each ballast water tank shall be considered to meet the standard described.

Pumping through less than three times the volume may be accepted provided the ship can demonstrate that at least 95 percent volumetric exchange is met.

Regulation D-2 Ballast Water Performance Standard

Ships conducting ballast water management shall discharge less than 10 viable organisms per cubic metre greater than or equal to 50 micrometres in minimum dimension and less than 10 viable organisms per milimeter less than 50 micrometres in minimum dimension and greater than or equal to 10 micrometres in minimum dimension; and discharge of the indicator microbes shall not exceed the specified concentrations.

Prototype technologies

Regulation D-4 covers Prototype Ballast Water Treatment Technologies. It allows for ships participating in a programme approved by the Administration to test and evaluate promising Ballast Water treatment technologies to have a leeway of five years before having to comply with the requirements. Must be approved by the Administration

These include systems which make use of :

   -chemicals or biocides; OR

   -organisms or biological mechanisms; OR

   -which alter the chemical or physical characteristics of the Ballast Water.

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