Asia/Pacific News
Alternative Ballast Water Treatment Installation Proposed
The Indian Register of Shipping (IRClass) says a mobile system for treating ballast water could help shipowners comply with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO)'s Ballast Water Management Convention, according to an emailed statement.
The convention, which is moving toward sufficient ratification numbers to come into force, would affect about 74,500 vessels, according to IRClass Vice President Praveen Kumar Mishra.
Mishra said no more than 5 percent of those ships have ballast water treatment systems (BWTS) installed, and the addition of such systems also requires crew training, additional power consumption and other expenses.
"Shipping is in need of an alternative to solve these challenges," he said.
"And that solution, is the reinvented Port Based Mobile Ballast Water Treatment Facility, or 'BWTBoat.'"
BWTBoat systems, developed by IRClass, consist of vessels fitted with modular BWTS customised for local waters.
The mobile units would provide treated water or allow ships to discharge ballast for a fee, without the need for additional equipment.
IRClass says the approach could be used in regional and coastal trading zones worldwide.
Bawat, a Danish maker of a BWTS, said in November that it expects the market for the systems to grow "explosively" as U.S. regulations take effect and the IMO convention moves toward taking effect.
