Web Alert: USCG ballast water developments in the US

All ships calling at US ports and intending to discharge ballast water must either carry out ballast water exchange or treatment. US legislation requires the ballast water treatment system to be type-approved by the USCG.

In early May 2019, the US Coast Guard Marine Safety Centre has issued the 18th US Coast Guard Ballast Water Management System Type Approval Certificate to Wärtsilä Water Systems, Ltd as it was determined that the system met the requirements of 46 CFR 162.060.

The treatment principle of the Wärtsilä Aquarius UV BWMS consists of filtration with UV treatment at uptake and discharge. This approval covers models with maximum treatment rated capacities between 50 m³/h and 1,000 m³/h.

So far, DESMI Ocean Guard A/S, Envirocleanse, LLC (USA), De Nora (USA), Panasia (Republic of Korea), JFE Engineering Corporation (Japan), Headway Technology (People's Republic of China), Alfa Naval (Sweden), Hyundai Heavy Industries (Korea), Wärtsilä Water Systems (England), BIO-UV Group (France), Samsung Heavy Industries Co (Republic of Korea), Techcross (Republic of Korea), Optimarin (Norway), Alfa Laval (Sweden), TeamTec Ocean Saver (Norway), Sunrui (China), Ecochlor (US) and Erma First (Greece) have been issued USCG type approval. Further information can be found in the attachment on the right.

The Marine Safety Centre has also received its 25th application for type approval for the HK-(E)C Ballast Water Management System manufactured by Miura Co., Ltd. The application is under review for compliance with USCG regulations in 46 CFR 162.060. Once it has been determined that the application meets the requirements, the MSC will issue a type approval certificate.

Category: Pollution