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SStatsSTATISTICSBallast Water Treatment: Decisions, Decisions …The IMO’s Ballast Water Convention will enter into force12 months after 30 countries representing 35 percent of theworld’s tonnage have ratified it. Today’s tally exceeds this,totaling 38 countries – a reflection of the international community’sresponse to the impact of invasive species. Total tonnage,however, stands at 30 percent; short of the requirement.According Dr. Stelios Kyriacou of Wä rtsilä Water Systems,a key driver for operators deciding to move forward in thisenvironment was the U.S. Coast Guard announcement confirmingthat performance discharge standards identical to theIMO’s D2 discharge standard would be adopted with an effectivedate of 21 June 2012. The USCG also said that any systemthat has an IMO Type Approval certificate issued by or on behalfof a non-US flag administration could be accepted underits Alternative Management Systems (AMS) provisions, havingbeen previously subject to a USCG assessment. Approximately9,000 foreign-flagged vessels visit US ports every year.Compliance with ballast regulations is now mandatory for all.BWT system selection is made more complicated in that theUSCG has not yet type approved or certified any systems. Inthe meantime, AMS-accepted systems must be used with onlya five-year regulatory compliance horizon, with no certaintythat they will ultimately be approved by the USCG. Kyriacoualso said, “Although the overall implementation schedule hasbeen protracted, the US position and introduction of the VesselGeneral Permit (VGP) from 19 December 2013 will acceleratethe need to comply. Shipowners are acting now tofind and secure the most effective installation.” Key designconsiderations for BWT system selection include:• Training Requirements• Ballast tankage volumes• Available Space onboard• Piping arrangements• Chemical Storage (if needed)• Discharge Sample Location• Ship routes (and associated ballast quality conditions)• Integration of BWT controls into ballast control systems• Ballast pump capacities / PSIGThe game is moving in one direction: vessels must meet theIMO D-2 standard – which is numerically equal to the U.S.standard. For most, this can only be achieved through the useof technology. There’s no silver bullet – no single solutionwill be suitable across all ship types, sizes and environmentalconditions.The Coast Guard’s AMS list – as of November 2013 – isdepicted below:58 | Maritime Professional | 4Q 2013