Challenges and solutions from certification testing and their implications for the practical implementation of ballast water management

Abstract

<span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family: " times="" new="" roman";mso-fareast-font-family:calibri;mso-bidi-font-family:"times="" roman";="" mso-ansi-language:en-gb;mso-fareast-language:en-us;mso-bidi-language:ar-sa"="" lang="EN-GB">The existing guideline G8 of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) is a generic document that has been compiled based on expert knowledge. Since its first release in 2005, and the revision in 2008, it has proved to be a workable document. However, practical experience gained from certification testing has shown a number of short-comings. Some of these have been addressed and amended in later regulations while other issues are still unresolved. In this paper the topic is addressed from the point of view of a test facility. Common challenges faced by test facilities and possible solutions thereof are presented in the context of practical application of ballast water management systems on board of ships. The relevance and meaning of taxonomy, organism numbers, temperature, salinity and sediment load, are discussed. Lessons learned from the past 7 years of land-based testing and their relevance for future shipboard operation and compliance control are evaluated. </span>