Ballast water
Globalization and growing trade between countries on the globe means that the movement of cargo through ships increases every year. It is estimated that 80% of all cargo in the world is carried by ships. To maintain safety, navigability and stability of vessels, it is necessary to fill the vessels' tanks with water.
Context
This water captured in one environment and transferred to another via the ships' tanks is defined as ballast water.
Definition
Danger
During the ship's ballasting operation, with the water, small organisms are also captured. And can be transported and introduced in another port.
The International Maritime Organization (IMO, 2004) lists the ten most unwanted species in ballast water operations;
• Cholera Vibrio cholerae (various strains)
• Cladoceran Water Flea Cercopagispengoi
• Mitten Crab Eriocheirsinensis
• Toxic algae (red / brown / green tides) (various species)
• Round Goby Neogobiusmelanostomus
• North American Comb Jelly Mnemiopsisleidyi
• North Pacific Seastar Asteriasamurensis
• Zebra Mussel Dreissenapolymorpha
• Asian Kelp Undariapinnatifida
• European Green Crab Carcinusmaenas
Legislation
By the year 2024, all commercial vessels will be required to complete the installation of their Ballast Water Management Systems (BWMS). The United States has developed a more restrictive regulation of its own, originating from the US Coast Guard agencies (USCG) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). They state that without treatment systems and due biochemical analysis, ships may not be able to obtain the General Ship License (VGP) and are at risk of being penalized if they make port calls in the United States.
At the same time, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) finalized another set of standards for ballast water management when its Convention came into force on September 8, 2017.
Brazil is a signatory to the IMO and is based on the Maritime Authority for Ballast Water Management Standard (NORMAN20) of the Brazilian Navy Directorate of Ports and Coasts.
Vessels that perform some type of chemical treatment of ballast water must conduct monitoring of ballast water discharge for any biocides or residual derivatives used. In initial monitoring the sampling frequency of ballast water varies from 3 to 5 times a year, depending on the results. While maintenance monitoring varies from 2 to 4 times a year. The main biocides used in ballast water treatment are chlorine, chlorine dioxide and ozone. In addition, some by-products are also equally important and should be tested, such as: trihalomethanes, chlorate, bromate, haloacetic acids. LAN Maritime LAB can perform all of these parameters. See our list of services.