US ballast water rules top concerns

摘要

Shipowners doing business in the US will be keeping close tabs on several regulations that have been years in the making and are scheduled to take effect in 2012. Of these, new ballast water standards are expected to hit owners' wallets hardest because, to meet tighter rules, shipowners will have to spend money on expensive new equipment. The US Coast Guard rules, currently under review by the Office of Management and Budget, are expected to be released in the early part of2012.