What are the hazards associated with ballast water?
However, ballast water may contain aquatic organisms or pathogens, which, if introduced into the sea including estuaries, or into fresh water courses, may create hazards to the environment, human health, property or resources, impair biological diversity or interfere with other legitimate uses of such area.
What are the things that to be considered by the master before they conduct the ballasting?
Throughout the ballast water exchange process, the Master has to take into consideration the following:
- The vessel’s position including traffic density.
- Weather forecasts and sea condition.
- Vessel’s stability and loading conditions.
- Condition and performance of the vessel’s machinery and manoeuvrability.
Which regulation where specific requirements for ballast water management are contained?
regulation B-3 Ballast
The specific requirements for ballast water management are contained in regulation B-3 Ballast Water Management for Ships.
What is the requirement in conducting a ballast water exchange?
All ships using ballast water exchange should, whenever possible, conduct ballast water exchange at least 200 nautical miles from the nearest land and in water at least 200 metres in depth, taking into account guidelines developed by the IMO.
What is ballast water management plan?
The ballast water management plan aims to assist governments, appropriate authorities, vessels’ Masters, operators, owners, port authorities as well as other interested parties, in preventing, minimising and ultimately eliminating the risk of introducing harmful aquatic organisms and pathogens from vessels’ ballast …
Which three things does the Ballast Water Management Convention seek to minimize?
In the future, modified ship designs that (1) minimize the quantity of ballast water discharged, (2) permit safe ballast change at sea under a wide range of operational conditions, and (3) facilitate cleaning of ballast tanks may be part of an overall ballast water control strategy (see Appendix D).
What is ballast system?
Ballasting – the process by which a commercial vessel pumps water in or out its ballast tanks while in transit or at a port – is essential for safety, especially if the ship is carrying a heavy load in one hold and a lighter load in another, or empty and facing rough seas.
Which ballast water system may affect ballast tank coating and cause corrosion?
Hempel has carried out testing of its ballast tank coatings against seawater treated with hypochlorite, a commonly used active chemical in ballast water treatment systems. This treated water can be highly corrosive – a challenge for any coating.
Why ballast water management is important?
This method is based on the fact that the invader species from coastal water cannot survive in deep waters and deep water species cannot survive in coastal waters. When replacing the ballast water at deep sea, BWM convention regulation D1 requires that at least 95% of the ballast water need to be exchanged.
Why does untreated ballast water destroy the local ecosystem?
Dealing with Ballast Water It can contain thousands of aquatic microbes, algae and animals, which are then carried across the world’s oceans and released into ecosystems where they are not native. Untreated ballast water released at a ship’s destination could potentially introduce new invasive aquatic species.
Is ballast water harmful to ships?
While the carriage of ballast water is an essential component in the operation of vessels, it has been determined by competent authorities that ballast water is a significant pathway for the transfer of harmful aquatic organisms and/or pathogens.
What are the challenges of ballast water exchange?
These challenges include over-pressurization or under-pressurization of tanks, longitudinal strength and transverse stability concerns, as well as maneuverability issues. To assist the marine industry, ABS issued the “Advisory Notes on Ballast Water Exchange Procedures” in October 1999.
What precautions should be taken when using air pipes for ballast?
Cautionary procedures to be taken regarding the use of air pipes that are not designed for continuous ballast water flow, and weathertight closures (e.g., manholes) which are to be re-secured after flow-through ballast water exchange, are to be provided within the Ballast Water Management Plan and on the charts and/or tables required in itemabove.
How to implement a ballast water management plan on a vessel?
1 General To assist in the implementation of the Ballast Water Management Plan, the vessel’s crew must be trained and familiar with the tasks expected of them. This training together with an understanding as to the reasons why ballast water exchange is necessary will promote the effective and efficient conduct of the Ballast Water Management Plan.