Cooperation and ballast water treatment systems that are fit-for-purpose in all known operating conditions are essential factors to ensure that implementation of the ballast water management convention achieves maximum environmental benefit, says Esben Poulsson, Chairman of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS).
Poulsson believes that shipping companies need to make it clear to equipment manufacturers that they will only consider fitting BWTS that have been IMO type approved in line with the standards adopted in 2016, even though this is not yet a mandatory requirement.
Poulsson estimates that the industry will spend around US $100bn to install BWTS and says that is is therefore of most importance that we get this right.
ICS supported the decision by the IMO to adjust the implementation dates of the convention so that ships constructed before September 8 will not be required to install BWTS until the date of their first International Oil Pollution Prevention (IOPP) renewal survey after September 8, 2019.
There is little point in making shipowners fit their ships with systems that have not been approved under the more stringent standards, so it makes sense to delay the implementation date. But, as Poulsson highlights, shipowners have the opportunity to make use of this additional time to invest in far more robust technology to benefit the environment.
Fathom-News
editor@fathom-mi.com
