During the first of three London Ballast Water Forums, hosted by the UK Chamber of Shipping in partnership with Fathom Maritime Intelligence, Paul Squibb, IEng IMarEST, Superintendent, Absolute Shipping, revealed that port facilities for the short sea shipping sector are facing challenges with the imminent implementation of the Ballast Water Management Convention.
Mr Squibb revealed to the floor that the cost to ports if the short sea sector start installing ballast water treatment systems (BWTS) would be huge and even large ports such as Liverpool would not be able to take on port reception facilities.
Not only does the short sea shipping sector face difficulties in finding suitable ballast systems that fit the space and power requirements of smaller vessels, but ports too face increasing costs if short sea shipping sector ships do fit BWTS. At the moment the port reception facilities are not in place for this sector, and so any ships with BWTS needing to use port facilities face these difficulties.
Flag States may give exemptions for the use of BWTS for their own facilities, but this would be up to the flag State itself and therefore if exemptions are not given short sea ships and ports will have to comply once the Convention enters into force.
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