BALLAST WATER MANAGEMENT REGULATIONS

International Maritime Organization (IMO)

In 2004, the Member Nations of the IMO adopted the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ship's Ballast Water and Sediments. Read full text of the Convention >>

References to the requirements for management of ballast tank sediments are made in several locations throughout the text of the Convention. Read summary of the sediment management requirement >>

Regulation B-3

Regulation B-3 of the Convention describes the schedule for the implementation of the Convention.
View text of Regulation B-3 >>

Regulation D-2

Regulation D-2 of the Convention describes the discharge (or treatment) standards for ballast water.
View the text of Regulation D-2

Regulation D-3

On the same page of the Convention, Regulation D-3 describes the procedure for approval of Ballast Water Management Systems used to comply with the Convention. View the text explanation of these procedures from the 2008 Lloyds Register Ballast Water Treatment Technology Handbook >>

Specifically, Regulation D-3 of the Convention refers to Guidelines developed by the Organization (the IMO).
Read Revised Guidelines for Approval of Ballast Water Management Systems (G8) >>

There is an additional Guideline for ballast water management systems that make use of active substances:
Read Revised Procedure for Approval of Ballast Water Management Systems that Make Use of Active
Substances (G9) >>

Please note that Section 1.4 of the G9 Guidelines states:

1.4 This procedure is not intended for the evaluation of the efficacy of Active Substances. The efficacy of ballast water management systems that make use of Active Substances should be evaluated in accordance with the Guidelines for approval of ballast water management systems (G8).

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Vessel General Permit (VGP)

On November 30th 2011, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its draft Vessel General Permit (VGP). The complete VGP Draft and VGP Factsheet can be downloaded from the EPA website at: http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/vessels/vgpermit.cfm.

The new VGP includes specific BWT technology review and approval criteria. Listed below are some important details:

· Effective December 19, 2013, in accordance with VGP Section 2.2.3.5.1.1: “Vessel owner/operators utilizing a ballast water treatment system (BWTS) must use a system which has been shown to be effective by testing in accordance with the EPA-ETV protocol for the verification of ballast water treatment technology conducted by an independent third party laboratory, test facility or test organization.” Please refer to Page 27, VGP Draft.

· The new VGP lists five BWT technologies that have been accepted by the U.S. Government as having demonstrated the ability to meet the IMO D-2 discharge standard in accordance with EPA’s review criteria. Please refer to Page 78, VGP Factsheet.

  The EPA technology list includes:
    · Deoxygenation + cavitation
    · Filtration + chlorine dioxide
    · Filtration + UV
    · Filtration + UV+TiO2
    · Filtration + electro-chlorination

· The EPA’s Science Advisory Board (SAB) evaluated virtually all available BWT technologies, resulting in selection of the five technologies listed above. Please refer to Table 4.1, SAB Report for the complete list of reviewed technologies. Those technologies not listed on Table 4.1 have not been demonstrated to meet the IMO D-2 discharge standard in accordance with EPA review criteria.

· The VGP technology list includes deoxygenation and cavitation, which is N.E.I.’s patented Venturi Oxygen Stripping™ (VOS) System. The VOS System has fully satisfied EPA VGP review criteria and has been demonstrated to meet the IMO D-2 discharge standard. No further testing or review of the VOS System will be necessary by the U.S. Government.

· Required treatment is identical to IMO D-2 discharge standard. Please refer to Page 26, VGP Draft.

· The Phase-in Schedule is also identical to the IMO Convention. Please refer to Page 35, VGP Draft. Please note: All vessels starting construction after January 1, 2012 will have to treat ballast water using a BWTS approved by U.S. Government.

· The draft VGP began a 75-day public comment period on November 30th. Following review and consideration of public comments, the EPA intends to publish the final VGP by December 2012, twelve months prior to entering into force on December 19, 2013.

U.S. Coast Guard Ballast Water Management Rules

The United States Coast Guard in currently in the review and approval stages of its rulemaking on ballast water management requirements for ships operating in U.S. waters. View draft USCG Rules for Ballast Water Management >>