Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
This applies to all non-recreational vessels, U.S. and foreign, that are equipped
with ballast tanks and operate in the waters of the U.S., except
• Department of Defense or Coast Guard vessels,
• Any warship, naval auxiliary, or other vessel owned or operated by a foreign
state and used, for the time being, only on government non-commercial service,
Crude oil tankers 23 engaged in coastwise trade, and
Vessels that operate exclusively within one Captain of the Port (COTP) Zone.
Some vessels are completely exempt from all BWM requirements, while some
are only exempt from meeting the discharge standard. Under certain circumstances,
including vessels equipped with USCG approved BWMS, vessels which use only
water from a U.S. public water system, vessels with previously cleaned ballast tanks
(including sediment) and vessels which discharge to a facility onshore or to another
vessel for purposes of treatment, the following vessels are exempted:
• Seagoing vessels that operate in more than one COTP Zone, but do not operate
outside of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), and are less than or equal to
1,600 gross register tons or less than or equal to 3,000 gross tons,
• Non-seagoing vessels,
• Vessels that take on and discharge ballast water exclusively in one COTP
Zone, and
• Vessels in innocent passage, i.e. a foreign vessel that is merely traversing the
territorial sea of the U.S. (unless bound for, entering or departing a U.S. port or
navigating the internal waters of the U.S.).
In summary, the compliance options include USCG approved BWMS, no ballast
water discharge, discharge to a reception facility, U.S. Public Water System water for
ballast and AMS (as interim solution). The compliance requirements include record
keeping, maintain a BWM plan, operate according to BWMPs for uptake and dis-
charge, submit a BW reporting form and continue to meet the discharge standards.
USEPA issued another instrument to manage ballast water which is named Vessel
General Permit (VGP). Version one was fi nalised in 2009 and version two was pub-
lished 2011. In compliance with the provisions of the Clean Water Act (CWA),
under the VGP, Notices of Intent (NOIs) need to be submitted in advance of dis-
charges from a vessel to USEPA. Although named Vessel General Permit for
Discharges Incidental to the Normal Operation of Vessels (VGP) ballast water dis-
charges have to be reported, but we consider ballast water discharges as being a
regular operations in shipping, i.e. not incidental. However, as per the VGP, it needs
to be indicated whether or not a vessel will be using a BWMS and a set of questions
needs to be answered including the discharge of residual biocides. This applies to
all vessels greater than or equal to 300 gross tonnage or vessels with a ballast water
capacity of more than 8 m 3 in ballast tanks. The instrument outlines mandatory
BWM practices, including avoidance areas for ballast water uptakes, cleaning of
ballast tanks regularly to remove sediments in mid-ocean or under controlled
23 These vessels are required to meet a different standard.
 
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