Ballast water treatment systems


Brace for a ballast water bottleneck There is variation on the numbers, but the outlook is clear


compliance dates set out in the IMO’s Ballast Water Management Convention are fixed. The Convention is likely to be ratified later this year or early next, and then there are just 12 months before it enters force. The US, meanwhile, is likely to adopt even tougher standards on ballast water micro-organisms for US-flag ships and foreign vessels in its waters from 2016. So how many ships will need to be retrofitted? Well, the statistics vary widely – from a low of 20,000 to all IACS classed vessels, 56,875 ships in total, according to Lloyd’s Register. The new regulations will affect all vessels over 400 gross tons, though of course, many such vessels trade in parts of the world where there are no jurisdictions to implement the rules. Whatever the actual number is, it’s a very large one. Jurrien Baretta, Business Development Manager at Goltens Green Technologies, says her company has calculated that 49,000 vessels will need ballast water treatment installations and, if ship operators plan to carry out the work simultaneously with special surveys, that’s 11,000 retrofits a year between now and 2016. But if owners wait until the last minute, there could be as many as 16,500 vessels requiring retrofits in 2017. That's 45


M


any ship operators still seem remarkably relaxed considering that


installations every day. She sees a bottleneck as almost inevitable. And the point is, there is little


flexibility. Operators must comply at the first special or intermediate survey after the anniversary of a ship’s delivery from either 2014 or 2016 onwards, depending on their ship's ballast tank capacity (see table). Prudent owners, it is suggested, have already embarked on an orderly and carefully planned installation process. Experts suggest that those who are opting to leave retrofits until the last minute could find their strategy works out far more expensive in the long run. And, depending on your trade, non-compliance risks heavy fines and/or ship detention. This, in turn, could lead to acrimonious charterparty disputes.


In fact, cost is a key concern in various ways, particularly since there are no direct benefits for


Ballast capacity <1,500m3 1,500–5,000m3 >5,000m3


BWE or BWT BWT only until 2016; BWT only from 2016


BWE or BWT BWT only until 2014; BWT only from 2014


BWE or BWT


until 2016 BWT only from 2016


BWE or BWT BWT Only


until 2016; BWT only from 2016


*These ships need to comply at the first intermediate or renewal survey after the anniversary of the date of delivery in the year of compliance. BWE – ballast water exchange BWT – ballast water treatment


SOURCE: LLOYD’S REGISTER 21


. A massive challenge lies ahead if all ships


requiring ballast water treatment systems are to be fitted in time. Experts say crack on, and get suitable systems installed as soon as possible.


owners or operators as a result of installing such systems. Depending on type and capacity, ballast water treatment plant will not come cheap – estimates suggest the largest installations may cost up to $2m. And costs are likely to rise as manufacturers come under pressure to produce sufficient hardware to meet demand and global ship repair capacity, and expertise, comes under strain, particularly for large systems. Routine surveys will take longer – installation work will inevitably disrupt repairs and maintenance in machinery spaces.


The cost and availability of suitably qualified installation engineers will be tested. And then there are running costs, possibly up to $20 per 1,000cu mtr of treated water, but training, spare parts and service support will all be required to ensure that systems are fully functional. 


Year of ship construction Before 2009* 2009+ 2009-2011 2012+


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