Commissioning Testing of Ballast Water Management System
The purpose of commissioning testing is to validate the installation of a ballast water management system (BWMS) by demonstrating that its mechanical, physical, chemical and biological processes are working properly.
Commissioning testing is not intended to validate the design of type-approved BWMS that are approved by the Administration. This article is prepared based on the 2020 Guidance for the commissioning testing of ballast water management systems.
What's new with MEPC 79
The seventy-ninth session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee was held from 12 to 16 December 2022. A brief report of adopted outputs has been written for the Marine Topics readers.
The latest amendment on the ESP code (2024)
The latest amendment on the ESP code has been adopted on Nov. 2022 and will be entered into force on 01. July.2024. (The 106th session of the Maritime Safety Committee was held from 2 to 11 November 2022)
In this article, we will discuss these amendments in summary.
Shipboard Testing of Ballast Water Management Systems
Shipboard Testing is a full-scale test of a complete BWMS carried out on board a ship according to IMO Guidelines, to confirm that the system meets the standards set by regulation D-2 of the Convention.
In this article, we try to express the shipboard testing as the final step in receiving the type approval certificate by taking the IMO guidelines.
Guidance on ballast water record-keeping and reporting
The Marine Environment Protection Committee, at its eightieth session (3 to 7 July 2023) approved the Guidance on ballast water record-keeping and reporting to assist in bringing clarity to the record-keeping and reporting process under the BWM Convention, including guidance on completing the Ballast Water Record Book. This BWRB format will enter into force on 1 February 2025.
Sampling point in the ballast water discharge line
In accordance with article 9 of the Convention, a Party may sample the ship’s ballast water for the purpose of determining whether the ship is in compliance with the Convention in accordance with these Guidelines. Although the Convention contains no requirements for provision of sampling points, the Guidelines for approval of ballast water management systems (G8) adopted by resolution MEPC. 174(58) do expressly call for the provision of sampling facilities, not only for the purpose of type approval, but also for the purpose of other required sampling process.
China is Checking Ballast Water on Japanese Ships for Radioactivity
China has reportedly quietly begun checking all ships arriving from Japan looking for signs of radioactivity in their ballast
©2023 All Rights Reserved