The United States Coast Guard has this week updated its most frequently asked questions on ballast water management and the associated convention.
The extensive list covers questions from the regulation itself to the types of ballast water treatment systems available, recording and reporting information, shipboard testing, approval procedures, and much more.
The FAQs cover issues such as how the USCG will grant ballast water extentions now that the USCG has type approved some ballast water treatment systems. According to the document, shipowners and operators will have to prove that despite all efforts, compliance with one of the approved ballast water management methods, including installation of a Coast Guard type-approved BWMS, is not possible.
Now that type-approved BWMS are available, any owner/operator requesting an extension must provide the Coast Guard with an explicit statement supported by documentary evidence (e.g., a delay in commercial availability) that installation of the type approved system is not possible for purposes of compliance with the regulatory implementation schedule. More information on this can be found on page 9 of the report.
Other questions answered include those on the rules of ballast water exchange. The USCG says that vessels may continue to conduct ballast water exchange until the Implementation Schedule.
The document also states that now the Coast Guard has type approved the first BWTS, it will try to work alongside the IMO to identify and highlight the differences between the Coast Guard BWM regulations and the IMO BWM Convention. However, the USCG states that it is important to note that the US is currently not a party to the BWM Convention. After the BWM Convention enters force (currently September 2017), the Coast Guard BWM regulations will not change.
For the full list of FAQs, please see the USCG document.
Fathom-News
editor@fathom-mi.com
