Posted:
November 16, 2012
The U.S. Coast Guard has issued files to provide a better understanding of its new regulations regarding ballast water treatment.
The document, "Evaluating a Vessel's Ballast Water Management Plan," is intended to address ballast water management procedures, sediment removal and bio-fouling maintenance. With the document, the U.S. Coast Guard released a PowerPoint presentation, which includes an audio narration. Both the document and the presentation, which were posted online by Bryant's Maritime Consulting, are available on the AMO Currents website.
Both files were provided to assist marine inspectors and port state control officers in evaluating a vessel's ballast water management (BWM) plan.
"Ballast water management is a complicated subject and some U.S. states have attempted to implement unrealistic standards that cannot be supported by current science or technology," said American Maritime Officers National Vice President for Government Relations Mike Murphy. "The Coast Guard has patterned its regulations after the International Maritime Organization's Ballast Water Management Convention, which is not yet fully ratified. I commend the Coast Guard for listening to industry and water management experts in implementing standards that are achievable with current technology. The implementation will not be easy, but at least we know it balances effort, costs and benefits for all of us."
In March, the U.S. Coast Guard published its final rule regarding standards for living organisms in ships' ballast water. The final rule sets ballast water standards that align with those developed by the IMO. The standards contained in the final rule represent "the most stringent that vessels can practicably implement and that the Coast Guard can enforce at this time."
The Coast Guard "still fully intends to issue a later rule that will establish a more stringent phase-two discharge standard once the additional research and analysis necessary to support this more stringent standard has been completed."
In its final rule, the Coast Guard has included targeted exemptions for Great Lakes, inland and offshore vessels working in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ), which refers to an area 200 nautical miles out to sea from a point on the U.S. mainland.
U.S. Coast Guard provides guidance on ballast water management regulations
The U.S. Coast Guard has issued files to provide a better understanding of its new regulations regarding ballast water treatment.
The document, "Evaluating a Vessel's Ballast Water Management Plan," is intended to address ballast water management procedures, sediment removal and bio-fouling maintenance. With the document, the U.S. Coast Guard released a PowerPoint presentation, which includes an audio narration. Both the document and the presentation, which were posted online by Bryant's Maritime Consulting, are available on the AMO Currents website.
Both files were provided to assist marine inspectors and port state control officers in evaluating a vessel's ballast water management (BWM) plan.
"Ballast water management is a complicated subject and some U.S. states have attempted to implement unrealistic standards that cannot be supported by current science or technology," said American Maritime Officers National Vice President for Government Relations Mike Murphy. "The Coast Guard has patterned its regulations after the International Maritime Organization's Ballast Water Management Convention, which is not yet fully ratified. I commend the Coast Guard for listening to industry and water management experts in implementing standards that are achievable with current technology. The implementation will not be easy, but at least we know it balances effort, costs and benefits for all of us."
In March, the U.S. Coast Guard published its final rule regarding standards for living organisms in ships' ballast water. The final rule sets ballast water standards that align with those developed by the IMO. The standards contained in the final rule represent "the most stringent that vessels can practicably implement and that the Coast Guard can enforce at this time."
The Coast Guard "still fully intends to issue a later rule that will establish a more stringent phase-two discharge standard once the additional research and analysis necessary to support this more stringent standard has been completed."
In its final rule, the Coast Guard has included targeted exemptions for Great Lakes, inland and offshore vessels working in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ), which refers to an area 200 nautical miles out to sea from a point on the U.S. mainland.