• 2016 January 11 10:18

    Optimarin says stringent UCSG BWT standards must be front for mind for shipowners in 2016

    As of 1 January 2016 vessels are no longer able to discharge ballast in US waters unless their ballast water treatment (BWT) systems are compliant with stringent demands from the USCG. Experts believe that now, more than ever, it is imperative that shipowners make the right BWT choice, Optimarin said in its press release.

    “There’s so much confusion surrounding the issue of ballast water treatment now,” opines Optimarin CEO Tore Andersen, the head of a firm that brought the first ever commercial BWT system to market back in 2000. “The IMO Ballast Water Management (BWM) convention is close to ratification, but yet to be rubber-stamped, and meanwhile the USCG has taken the bold move to act unilaterally to protect the environment with its own regulations.

    “So let’s cut through that uncertainty and state a fact: All shipowners that discharge ballast must get a BWT system, preferably an environmentally friendly one, if they want their ships to operate in the future.

    “And, if they want to sail in US waters, then they must act now.”

    The fact that there are effectively two sets of regulations regarding BWT standards has muddied the waters for shipowners, making it difficult to find the solution they need.

    Classification societies are well aware of this, but aren’t as keen to go on record to explain the situation. An environmental solutions expert at one of the world’s leading classification bureaus agreed to speak, but only on the condition of anonymity.

    “Ballast water gets by far the most questions of any issue we deal with,” they note with a smile, “and it’s easy to understand why.

     “There’s a major difference between USCG and IMO regulations. Basically this centres on standards.

    “USCG judges (BWT) systems on the basis of ‘living/dead’ organisms in ballast water, whereas IMO views them in terms of ‘viable/unviable’. In other words, for USCG approval systems have to kill the organisms, while for IMO they don’t, but must ensure they don’t reproduce.

    “USCG tests this using the FDA/CMFDA method, which uses a dye to identify living organisms, while the IMO does not list one specific methodology. The MPN (Most Probable Number) test is the norm here, having been used for almost 40 years, but procedures vary from laboratory to laboratory. This is an issue for USCG – it wants a simple, reliable and reproducible testing method.

    “Until this is established, and there are hurdles in doing so, both with validation and law making, FDA/CMFDA will remain the USCG standard.”
    No alternative

    Some may now be feeling lost in a sea of abbreviations. So, here’s the lowdown – USCG regulations are much more exacting. Which means fewer systems will make the grade.

    For the time being USCG is temporarily accepting the use of Alternate Management System (AMS), whereby vessels with solutions that have already been approved by another flag state can discharge ballast in US waters. However, USCG approved AMS systems will only be accepted for a period of five years after the vessel’s compliance date, and, if they haven’t met the USCG’s own stringent standards by that point, will have to be changed. That burden of potential cost and uncertainty is not one today’s shipowners, operating in a climate of squeezed margins and aggressive competition, may be willing to accept. They need to be sure.

    Unfortunately, the systems that many industry observers seem to prefer for their simplicity, ease of operation and environment credentials (utilising no chemicals) are struggling with USCG approval.

    “UV systems are easy to operate, don’t require chemical storage and are a good option for the industry,” opines the classification specialist. “But caution is needed.”

    They explain that the majority have been made with the ‘viable’ standard in mind and therefore lack the power – “and you might require a lot more power” – to tackle the tougher FDA/CFMDA test.

    “That’s where Optimarin has been smart,” they state. “They’re focusing on USCG current requirements and approval. And the first UV system to get this will have a real market advantage.”

    BWT specialist Optimarin - which has sold over 350 of its systems to shipowners across the world, with more than 270 installed - is coming to the end of a USD 3million USCG approval programme.

    Its technology is the first UV system to meet the USCG marine water requirements, successfully satisfying the FDA/CFMDA criteria. Further tests of remaining water salinities are scheduled for spring 2016, after which point approval is expected later in the year.

    “Passing the initial tests puts us in pole position in the market for final approval and is a great endorsement of our system’s effectiveness,” comments Andersen. “Each of our system lamps has a 35kw capacity. This power instantly kills any potentially harmful invasive organisms and that’s exactly what USCG wants to see.

    “We’re delighted to be leading the way in our segment - something that we put down to decades of work, sector expertise and investment.”
    With 2016 now upon us, both Andersen and the regulation expert offer similar, sage advice to shipowners.

    Andersen notes: “Install a system that is reliable, simple to maintain, easy to install (make sure any supplier can show a history of retrofit success) and proven within the marketplace. This is still a relatively young sector, so it pays to go with a name you can trust.”

    His classification peer, meanwhile, has regulations front of mind:
    “It’s simple,” they say. “The industry has to comply, so choose a system that will be compliant.”

    Optimarin installed the world’s first commercial system on the cruise ship Princess Regal in 2000.

    The type approved Optimarin Ballast System (OBS) is certified by a comprehensive range of classification organisations, including DNV GL, Lloyd’s, Bureau Veritas, MLIT Japan, and American Bureau of Shipping. Shipowners that have chosen the OBS solution include Saga Shipholding, MOL, Grieg Shipping Group, Gulf Offshore, Farstad Shipping, NYK, Nor Line, and Evergreen Marine Corp, amongst others. Optimarin’s OBS, which is already AMS accepted, is the only UV system to have satisfied the USCG’s marine water FDA/CMFDA tests so far. The system is now on course for full USCG approval in 2016.


2024 July 16

18:02 China extends visa-free transit policy to 37 ports
17:25 Works on schedule for the Ravenna regasifier, with the plant operational in the first quarter of 2025
17:05 STX Heavy Industries changes name to “HD Hyundai Marine Engine”
16:45 OOCL's revenue rises 14pc to US$2.2bln
16:20 Saltchuk acquires all of the outstanding shares of Overseas Shipholding Group
15:57 EU sets four conditions for the port of Piraeus inverstments
15:41 Serbia to open tender for Prahovo port overhaul in 2024
15:37 EIB lends €90 million for sustainable expansion of the Port of Livorno
15:34 Crew of capsized oil tanker off Oman still missing
15:14 Lomarlabs signs with Cargokite to develop a new ship class of micro ships
14:47 Greece extends naval drills that deter Russian oil transfers - Bloomberg
14:08 The Official Journal of the European Union publishes the first-ever EU regulation to reduce methane emissions
13:24 High cat fines found in the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp region bunker fuel samples, alerts CTI-Maritec
12:58 Yangzijiang Shipbuilding works to acquire over 866,671 sqm of land for new clean energy ship manufacturing base
12:42 GTT entrusted by Samsung Heavy Industries with the tank design of a new FLNG
10:47 Maersk signs an MoU for ship recycling in Bahrain

2024 July 15

18:06 European Shipowners and Maritime Transport Unions launch initiative to support shipping and seafarers in the digital transition
17:35 APM Terminals Mumbai switches to 80% renewable electricity
17:05 Seaspan Shipyards welcomes the formation of the “ICE Pact”
16:41 World’s first entirely hydrogen-powered ferry welcomes passengers in San Francisco Bay
16:26 FMC issues request for additional information regarding Gemini Agreement
16:24 Saipem awarded two offshore projects in Saudi Arabia worth approximately 500 million USD
16:12 Pecém Complex selects Stolthaven Terminals and GES Consortium as H2V Hub green ammonia operator
15:43 Singapore's bunker sales rise 8.5% in the first half of 2024
15:27 TORM purchases eight and sells one second-hand MR vessel
14:55 Adani plans to build port in Vietnam
13:35 Regulator gives conditional nod to HD Korea Shipping's purchase of stake in STX Heavy
13:02 HD Korea Shipbuilding wins US$2.67 billion order to build 12 container carriers
12:51 Maersk introduces SH3 ocean service between China and Bangladesh
12:24 ABS to сlass two new Seatrium FPSOs for Petrobras
11:42 CSP Abu Dhabi Terminal surpasses throughput of 5 mln TEUs
11:11 Fincantieri launches the seventh PPA “Domenico Millelire” in Riva Trigoso
10:51 India's first transshipment port receives its first container ship
10:35 The “Egypt Green Hydrogen” project in SCZONE wins a contract worth € 397 million to export green fuel to Europe

2024 July 14

15:17 FMC issues request for additional information regarding Gemini agreement
13:06 Lummus and MOL Group begin engineering execution on advanced waste plastic recycling plant in Hungary
10:51 Chinese line launches new Arctic container service to Arkhangelsk
09:49 Malta PM tours Abela toured MSC World Europa officially inagurates Valletta shore power

2024 July 13

15:47 €11 million for 1-MW Dynamic Electrolyser Unit
14:11 PSA Group and Singapore mitigate impact of global supply chain disruptions
12:23 NREL: Offshore wind turbines offer path for clean hydrogen production
10:06 MMMCZCS releases a technical, environmental, and techno-economic analysis of the impacts of vessels preparation and conversion

2024 July 12

18:00 Qingdao Port International to buy oil terminal assets for $1.30 billion
17:36 Saipem signs framework agreement with bp for offshore activities in Azerbaijan
17:06 AG&P LNG and BK LNG Solution signs an agreement to bring BKLS's first LNG spot cargo into China
16:31 Allseas removes final Brent platform with historic lift
15:58 ZPMC Qidong Marine Engineering launches the world’s largest FPSO bow section for Petrobras
15:25 MSC acquires Gram Car Carriers
14:58 ABP boosts marine capability through pilot launch upgrades
14:34 Fincantieri receives ISO 31030 attestation from RINA
13:52 Second new dual-fuel fast Ro-Pax ferry to enter service for Balearia after successful sea trials
13:24 ADNOC deploys AIQ’s world-first RoboWell AI solution in offshore operations
12:59 ABS issues AIP for new gangway design from Pengrui and COSCO
11:38 Port of Long Beach data project receives $7.875 mln to speed goods delivery
11:15 ZeroNorth to provide its eBDN solution on 12 barges operated by Vitol Bunkers in Singapore
10:46 Seatrium secures customer contract agreement from Teekay Shipping for the repairs and upgrades of a fleet of vessels
10:14 Liquid Wind and Uniper enter into strategic partnership to accelerate the development of eFuels

2024 July 11

18:06 Yanmar and Amogy to explore ammonia-to-hydrogen integration for decarbonized marine power
17:36 COSCO Shipping receives first 7500 CEU LNG dual-fuel PCTC
17:06 Monjasa adds two tankers and targeting West Africa’s offshore industry
16:34 Biden administration announces funding for 15 small shipyards in 12 states
16:10 Iran's Ports and Maritime Organization attracts nearly $1.7bln of investment in ports, maritime sector
15:52 The added value of Chinese port cities up to US$869.05 bln in 2023
15:25 HD Hyundai becomes first Korean shipbuilder to sign MSRA with US Navy
13:41 NovaAlgoma orders the world’s largest cement carrier
13:21 Steerprop selected to provide comprehensive propulsion systems for world's largest cable-laying vessel
12:41 Integrated Wartsila propulsion package supports decarbonisation and efficiency goals for James Fisher tankers
12:36 MABUX: Bunker Outlook, Week 28, 2024
12:10 Valencia Port Authority signs an agreement with C.N.E. Hydrogen and Fuel Cells to promote hydrogen research
11:41 Long Beach, Los Angeles ports partner for zero-emissions future