Testing and Approval of Ballast Water Treatment Systems

Abstract

The Ballast Water Management Convention was adopted in 2004 and Guidelines G8 for type approval of ballast water treatment systems were adopted in 2008. Since then, treatment systems have developed and testing procedures and capabilities have improved significantly. In June 2012, the USCG final rules for the discharge standard of living organisms in ships’ ballast water entered into force. This final ruling includes prescriptive requirements for type approval of treatment systems that differ in substance from the non-mandatory type approval guidelines established under the BWM Convention. This paper will explain the practical steps towards achieving a G8 type approval based on existing projects, and will address the possibility of combining type approvals following both Guidelines G8 and the USCG final rules. Paper published with permission.