On 8 September 2017 the Ballast Water Management Convention (BWMC) entered into force. But shipowners successfully obtained a delay for existing vessels and thus have more time to install treatment systems on board. By thomas Wägener
On the one hand, the decision by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to grant vessels built prior to 8 September[ds_preview] 2017 two more years before they require a BWTS on board has led to relief among shipping companies. On the other hand, suppliers are upset because they were hoping for an advance, led by complex technology. According to the original plans, the ballast water agreement was to enter into force earlier. This would have resulted in many ships to provide such a technology on board as soon as last year. At the latest, all ships would have had a BWTS installed on board by September 2022. Now operators/owners have to implement the facilities until the final deadline in September 2024 (see also HANSA 8/2017, p. 54).
However, the shipping companies have successfully rebelled against the original plans – and prevailed, because they were able to push a delay. The rationale presented was that available facilities were not ready for the market, yet. Furthermore, the costs would be to high for many of the shipowners, and in addition, the shipping companies referred to the problem of not clearly defined regulations. A competing legal framework in different areas of the world would rather complicate the situation, given the U.S. specifications for example, they said.
The new BWMC has a massive impact on the shipping sector worldwide.The investment for one BWTS could total 2mill. €. Esben Poulsson, Chairman of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) thus estimated some 100 bn. € overall costs for the whole maritime industry. Poulsson urges shipowners, ballast-water system manufacturers and governments to cooperate for the success of the convention, and to increase the potential for environmental protection. Owners should now use the time to invest in better technology, says Poulsson. Andrew Marshall, Coldharbour Marine CEO, also urges for making good use of the additional time: »Many ship operators require a far better understanding of ballast water treatment technologies and their shortcomings in real-life applications.«
Desmi improves test bed
One of the companies that worked on their BWTS recently is the Danish manufacturer Desmi. Its latest test bed, completed at the end of 2017, works with a wider scope of testing scenarios, and it enables customers to gain access to a new, expanded set of testing certification services. »We’ve made a considerable investment to upgrade our existing test bed with complete, state-of-the-art technology,« said André Jelstrup, Production Manager at Desmi. »With eight different test bases, each equipped to handle pumps of varying sizes and types, we’ve now got far greater flexibility.«
The new test bed can be both upgraded and expanded down the line which is equally relevant, Desmi stated. The company sees a vast improvement in upgrading their test bed technology. Once a pump is secured on its skid, an auto-cycle fills the pump cylinder with liquid, pushes the air out and automatically tests various points on a pre-determined pump curve. All the while, two viewing monitors provide a continuous and complete readout of the test results. Tolerances can also be accurately measured providing a significantly larger data set than the previous system, Desmi emphasises. This latter feature can be used to refine designs or catch problems at a much earlier point during testing.
Wärtsilä has improved its BWTS as well. According to the company, both Aquarius technologies are IMO approved, USCG Alternate Management System (AMS) accepted, and both are currently undergoing full USCG and ballast discharge regulation (Revised G8) testing. Wärtsilä expects the EC USCG type approval during the second half and the UV type approval for the last quarter of this year.
New order for Optimarin
Recently, Optimarin announced another order from Ahrenkiel Steamship for its Optimarin BWTS, also known as OBS. The OBS 334-370 BK has a capacity of 334m3/h and will be installed on »AS Laguna«. According to Optimarin it takes four to eight days to install a BWTS on board with a capacity of 500m3/h.
Due to the fact that about 40,000 vessels worldwide need to be fitted with ballast water treatment systems in the coming years, the installation time could be one of the decisive factors.
