IMO BWMS survey to analyse system performance

摘要

Ballast water management systems (BWMS) are once again on the agenda at the Marine Environment Protection Committee this month and in advance of the meeting the IMO is encouraging industry players to complete a survey on BWMS to assess the performance of type-approved systems and implementation of the BWMS approval guidelines, writes Sandra Speares. Other issues to be raised at the meeting include: independence of approval testing from system manufacturers; deviations from and use of standard testing methods; adequacy of reporting from land-based and ship-based testing; differences in member state approval protocols; scaling of systems; appropriate quality certification of testing facilities; ballast water holding times following treatment during testing and sampling and collection methods during shipboard testing.