Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 7 Revised implementation schedule of Californian interim BWM standards ( US Senate Bill
814 )
Standards apply to new vessels
in this size class constructed
on or after:
Ballast water
capacity of vessel
Standards apply to all other vessels
in this size class beginning on:
<1,500 metric tons
1st January 2016
1st January 2018
1,500-5,000 metric
tons
1st January 2016
1st January 2016
>5,000 metric tons
1st January 2016
1st January 2018
California, in addition to its numeric ballast water discharge standards, requires
that no unexchanged or untreated ballast water is permitted to be discharged at all,
with one exception, i.e. in cases the ballast water originates from within the same
port or place where it is intended to be discharged. As a result unmanaged ballast
water may, e.g., be transported between different San Francisco Bay ports (Lawrence
and Cordell 2010 ) and some of those are more than 50 NM apart.
In October 2013 the Californian standard implementation schedule was revised
due to the lack of available treatment technologies to comply with the California's
standards. The Senate Bill No. 814 delays the implementation of the Californian
standards by 2 years (see Table 7 ).
It should be noted that this delay addresses the interim standard only so that the
fi nal discharge standard of zero detectable organisms (see Table 3 ) is not affected.
The “Same Location” Concept Along the USA West Coast
When conducting intra-coastal voyages along parts of the U.S. west coast vessels
are exempted from BWM requirements, but each U.S. Pacifi c coastal state has
unique BWM requirements. In Washington state, ships are excepted from the
required BWE when ballast water (and sediments) intended to be discharged origi-
nates solely from the “same location”. This concept is in-line with the BWM
Convention. The “same location” is defi ned here as the waters of Washington state,
the Oregon part of the Columbia River system, and the interior waters of British
Columbia south of 50° N, so that the Straits of Georgia and Juan de Fuca are
included. Ships arriving from outside of this “same location” are required to com-
plete BWE at least 50 NM offshore (Lawrence and Cordell 2010 , Revised Code of
Washington 77.120.030 ). In Oregon, the “same location” is larger, and covers the
area between latitude 40 and 50° N (Lawrence and Cordell 2010 , Oregon Revised
Statutes 783.630 ).
In California BWM is required for all vessels. However, BWM exceptions apply
for those vessels which intend to discharge ballast water (and sediments) that origi-
nates solely from the “same location” or “same port or place”, both defi ned as an
area within 1 NM of the berth or within the breakwater of a California port or place
at which the ballast water was loaded. The exception also applies to vessels arriving
to the “same location” from a port or place outside the Pacifi c Coast Region
provided it can be documented that the ballast water intended to be discharged
 
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