The UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency has released a set of Ballast Water Management FAQs Updated in October 2020, which we are sharing for the members and the wider shipping community.
This Client Alert adds to the Club’s recent update reporting on EPA’s announcement of 6 October that it was proposing vessel discharge standards under VIDA.
On 6 October 2020, EPA issued a news release (click here) stating that it is proposing standards to reduce the environmental impact of discharges, such as ballast water, that are incidental to the normal operation of commercial vessels.
The UK Club has received the attached circular from our local correspondents, Huatai Insurance Agency & Consultant Service Ltd, regarding the prohibition of discharging waste water generated by open-loop exhaust gas cleaning systems (Scrubbers) within Emission Control Areas in China.
Reference is made to the most recent update from the Club, giving notification of the new tariff for pollution fines in Turkish waters. Particular attention should be given to the fact that these administrative fines imposed by the Environmental Protection Agency, pursuant to the Turkish Environmental Code (EC), are drastically increased in comparison to previous tariffs.
Vessels calling in the United States can still use exchanges to treat ballast water prior to their respective deadlines for installing a USCG type-approved treatment system. However, failure to properly conduct exchanges can lead to substantial penalties, especially in California.
We have been seeing an increase in cases where vessels calling at California ports are issued deficiencies by inspectors from the State Lands Commission.
The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Office of Commercial Vessel Compliance (CG-CVC) recently issued Policy Letter 18-02 providing guidelines for evaluating potential courses of action when a vessel bound for a U.S. port has an inoperable ballast water management/treatment system (BWMS/BWTS).
The introduction of invasive aquatic species (IAS) associated with global shipping has been identified as a significant threat to the world's oceans and coastal ecosystems. Research suggests that 70-80% of IAS introductions occur through biofouling, and new areas are constantly being invaded.
Reference is made to Circulars 1/17 and 6/17 concerning developments with respect to IMO's International Convention for the Control and Management of Ship's Ballast Water and Sediments "The BWM Convention" as well as the status of the US Ballast Water Management (BWM) Regulations.
The USCG Marine Safety Centre (MSC) has issued a Type Approval Certificate to Sunrui Marine Environment Engineering Co. Ltd for its Filtration/ Electrolysis ballast water treatment system. This brings the total number of systems approved by the USCG to date to four. Two further systems are currently under review.
