LR BWTS

Ballast water treatment systems Guidance for ship operators on procurement, installation and operation

Ballast water treatment systems© Lloyd’s Register September 2010

Introduction

These guidance notes provide advice to shipowners and operators who are preparing to install ballast water treatment systems on their ships. They have been developed as a complement to the Lloyd’s Register Ballast Water Treatment Technology guide. The guidance reflects the current status of the IMO regulations and provides some recommendations that will help owners prepare their ships and ensure that they remain compliant.

Background to the Ballast Water Management Convention

The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has developed the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments (the BWM Convention) to regulate discharges of ballast water and reduce the risk of introducing non-native species. The Convention will require ballast water treatment to be used in place of ballast water exchange. This requirement will be phased in according to the timescales shown in Table 1, and is based on ships’ year of construction.

The BWM Convention will apply to all ships trading internationally that carry ballast water, although there are some exceptions (see Appendix 2). There are also special territorial requirements. These are detailed in our National Ballast Water Management Requirements guide which can be downloaded at www.lr.org/bwm

Entry into forceThe Convention will come into force 12 months after the date by which not less than 30 states (the combined merchant fleet of which constitutes not less than thirty-five percent of the gross tonnage of the world’s merchant shipping) have ratified it. To date, it has been ratified by 26 states constituting 24% of the world’s merchant shipping fleet.


Build date

Pre 2009*

2009 onwards

2009 to 2011

2012 onwards

1,500 – 5,000

< 1,500 or > 5,000

< 5,000

> 5,000

> 5,000

D2*

D2*

D2*

D2

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 20162009

D1 or D2

D1 or D2

D2**

D1 or D2

Table 1: Timescales for ballast water exchange and treatment. D1 = exchange; D2 = treatment.

Notes:

1. * Indicates compliance by the first intermediate or renewal survey after the anniversary date of delivery in 2014 or 2016 (depending on the year in which compliance is required).

2. ** For ships built in 2009, Resolution A.1005 allows postponement of compliance until the second annual survey but not later than December 31, 2011.

3. Ships that have participated in the IMO ‘prototype programme’ in accordance with MEPC 140(54) will be allowed a five year period beyond the D2 dates specified in Table 1 before needing to comply with the D2 requirements.

D2*

Ballast water capacity (m3)


Available ballast water treatment systems

There is a limited number of approved ballast water treatment systems available, but there are many more manufacturers developing systems which will be submitted for test and approval in the near future. At the time of writing, there are 10 approved systems and others pending approval. With so few manufacturers able to supply approved equipment to meet current demand, it is highly likely that in the short term there will be significant lead times for some of the more popular systems.

Lloyds Register’s Ballast Water Treatment Technology guide provides concise details of the different systems available or under development, as well as comparison tables and links to manufacturers’ web sites. This should help with the initial selection and short-listing of appropriate systems. The Guide (pictured right) can be downloaded at: www.lr.org/bwm

Build date

Bulk carrier

Tankers

Container ships

Other(e.g. passenger, cargo and supply ships)

Typical ballast water capacity (m3)

Handysize up to capesize: > 5,000

Coastal tankers up to ULCC: > 5,000

Feedships: 1,500 to 5,000; Handysize up to ULCS: > 5,000

Most passenger and general cargo ships are in the 1,500 to 5,000 range. Supply ships are either in this range or less than 1,500.

Table 2: Typical ballast water capacities by ship type.


Considerations for newbuilds

Yards should identify the options for installing ballast water treatment systems in their newbuild specifications – both within the construction programme or through retrofitting. This could involve providing system drawings to show how a selection of different treatment options might be fitted, ensuring that sufficient space has been allocated for retrofitting treatment systems if they are not included in the initial build. Piping connections should also be fitted to ballast systems in preparation for retrofitting of the selected treatment equipment.

Considerations for existing ships

Operators will need to be aware of all modifications necessary to fit treatment systems to existing ships. It will be necessary to obtain schematic arrangements and equipment drawings from the system supplier in order for the technical department to develop a work plan. The work plan may alternatively be provided by the supplier, but the ship operator will still need to provide the ship’s ballast water system drawings, functional requirements and details of compartmental spaces where the equipment is to be fitted.

Note: Although equipment manufacturers will have to obtain flag state certification for the type approval of systems, they may not be fully conversant with all the maritime regulations and codes of practice that need to be considered during their installation and operation (such as those relating to chemical hazards and confined space safety considerations). Owners’ representatives should therefore carry out a review to ensure that regulations and codes of practice are not compromised.

Steps to selecting a treatment system

Vendor selection and specification reviews

Vendor experience in supplying similar systems.Equipment approvals. Commercial considerations.

Treatment options

Combination filtration and treatment.Chemical options such as chlorination, ozone, deoxygenation and peracetic acid.Mechanical means such as cavitation. UV radiation.Ultrasonic.

Technical and operational considerations

Time required for treatment to be effective.Ballast and treatment pumping rates.Ballast system characteristics (for example, the number of independent systems on board oil tankers).Health and safety.In-service requirements.Explosion proof equipment (for oil tankers, for example).Power requirements and onboard systems.Effects on tank coatings and corrosion considerations.Controls and alarms.Space constraints.

Installation planning

At sea or dry docking considerations for existing ships.Inclusion in build specifications for new builds.

Initial key aspects

Vessel type and characteristics.Trading pattern.Ballast capacity and flow rate requirements.


Procurement specification considerations

In order to select a suitable system, ship operators will need to prepare a Procurement Specification for potential suppliers, which details their technical requirements. This should include the following information:

• Theballastwaterpumpflowratesthatthetreatmentsystemwillberequiredtocopewith (note: the treatment equipment capacity should be greater than the ship’s ballast rate to allow for an operating margin).

• Acopyoftheballastsystempipeworkdiagramsshowingtheconnections,pumpingcapacities and valves.

• Compartmentdetailsfortheinstallationoftreatmentequipmentandstorageofconsumable materials.

• Powersupplyavailabilityandroutingforcontrolcabling.

• Certificationrequirements.

• Detailsoftheballasttankcoatings.

Ship operators should expect suppliers to include the following information in their offer:

• Confirmationthattheirsystemhassufficientcapacitytomeettheship’smaximumballastflowrates.

• Thesystem’spowerconsumption(excludingtheship’sfittedballastpumps)andanyotherelectrical requirements.

• Typesoftechnologyemployedinthesystem.

• Thechemicalsrequiredandtheirconsumptionrates.

• Healthandsafetyconsiderationsintermsofworkingenvironment,handlingandstorageof chemicals.

• Protectionsystemsfornormalandemergencyoperation.

• Trainingrequirementsforsystemoperation,calibration,monitoringandhealthandsafety.

• Theworkplanforsupplytoship,installation,commissioningandtest.

• Astatementoftheeffectthatthetreatedballastwaterwillhaveonballasttankcoatings,including copies of relevant studies that support such claims.

• Anestimateofthereductioninthevessel’sballastingratefollowinginstallationofthetreatment system and a description of any mitigation measures. This should include details of pressure drops and the effect that the introduction of the treatment equipment will have on ballast pump suction and delivery performance.

When shortlisting potential suppliers, in addition to price, operators should consider: installation and commissioning costs; training requirements; estimated operating costs including consumables; maintenance requirements; operating experience; delivery lead times for supply and fitting; and any special docking requirements or ship modifications required for equipment installation.


Additional considerations

After technical data has been received from the suppliers, operators should carry out the following engineering checks:

• Ensurethatexistingauxiliarygeneratorsandcontrolsystemscancopewiththeadditionalpower requirements (for some systems it may be necessary to upgrade generators).

• Checkthattreatmentequipmentcanbeeasilyintegratedintoexistingballastsystems.

• Checkthesuitabilityofcontrolrequirements,includingalarmsandprotectivedevices.

• Conductareviewoflocalversusremoteoperatingsystemsandeaseofintegrationwithexisting machinery controls.

• Assesseaseofmaintenance,calibrationandballastwatersampling.

• Assesstheneedforventingorothermeasuresforcompartmentswhereactivesubstances(chemical or otherwise) are stored or at risk of escape.

• Reviewmanufacturers’maintenancerequirementstoconfirmwhichactivitiestheship’sstaffare required to perform, what spares and consumables would need to be carried, and what service requirements, if any, would have to be undertaken by the original equipment manufacturer (OEM). • Assesshowsedimentswillbemanaged.

• Ensureballasttankgaugingwillnotbeaffectedbytheballastwatertreatmentsystem(pneumatic tank gauges may be affected by inerting of ballast tanks).

• Ensurethattheballastwatertreatmentsystemarrangementsmaintaintheseparationofballast tanks located within ‘gas safe’ and ‘gas dangerous’ zones. In some cases, separate ballast water systems may be required for each zone. Typically, this applies to oil and chemical tankers.

Hazards and safety considerations

1. Hazardous chemicals storage and handling A number of different chemicals or chemical processes are employed in the ballast water treatment systems available, including:

• chlorination • electrochlorination • ozonation • chlorinedioxide • peraceticacid • hydrogenperoxide •menadine/vitaminK • perchloricacid.


Some systems generate chemicals during the treatment process; for others, chemicals are required to be stored on board.

If chemicals are stored on board, the crew will require training on their use and handling. Suitable storage space for chemicals and proper ventilation are of paramount importance. The Safety Data Sheet for chemicals to be stored on board need to be consulted and where necessary the appropriate fire protection and extinction arrangements will need to be installed. Additional information on the safety precautions for specific chemicals is provided in Appendix 4.

In the case of systems that generate chemicals during the treatment process, the crew will require training on the hazards associated with them.

AdviceonthestorageandhandlingofchemicalsiscontainedintheIMOCircular:BWM.2/Circ.20 – Guidance to ensure safe handling and storage of chemicals and preparations used to treat ballast water and the development of safety procedures for risks to the ship and crew resulting from the treatment process. This can be downloaded from the IMO website at: www.imo.org/circulars/mainframe.asp?topic_id=1124

2. Inerted ballast tanks and gas hazards Additional safety procedures need to be available to ships’ staff to warn them about the dangers of entering ballast tanks that may have been inerted or have gas residues.

3. Emergency bypass operation To ensure the ballast water management system (BWMS) remains operational in the event of the treatment system failing, suitable by-passes or overrides should be installed to protect the safety of the ship and personnel. The by-pass should activate an alarm, and the by-pass event should be recorded by the control equipment.

4. Controls, warnings and alarms Ballast water management systems should incorporate a visual alarm which is always activated whenever the BWMS is in operation for purposes of cleaning, calibration, or repair, and these events should be recorded by the control equipment. It is recommended that automatic ballast water treatment controls and alarms are integrated with, or located close to, the ship’s ballast water controls.


Appendix 1 – Useful references

The following Marine Environmental Protection Committee (MEPC) Resolutions provide guidelines for various activities related to ballast water treatment.

Resolution no.

MEPC.152(55)

MEPC.173(58)

MEPC.123(53)

MEPC.127(53)

MEPC.153(55)

MEPC.124(53)

MEPC.162(56)

MEPC.174(58)

MEPC.169(57)

MEPC.140(54)

MEPC.149(55)

MEPC.150(55)

MEPC.161(56)

MEPC.151(55)

Title

Guidelines for sediment reception facilities (G1)

Guidelines for ballast water sampling (G2)

Guidelines for ballast water management equivalent compliance (G3)

Guidelines for ballast water management and development of ballast water management plans (G4)

Guidelines for ballast water reception facilities (G5)

Guidelines for ballast water exchange (G6)

Guidelines for risk assessment under regulation A-4 (G7)

Guidelines for approval of ballast water management systems (G8) (originally MEPC 126(53).

Procedure for approval of ballast water management systems that make use of active substances (G9)

Guidelines for approval and oversight of prototype ballast water treatment technology programmes (G10)

Guidelines for ballast water exchange design and construction standards (G11)

Guidelines on design and construction to facilitate sediment control on ships (G12)

Guidelines for additional measures regarding ballast water management including emergency situations (G13)

Guidelines on designation of areas for ballast water exchange (G14)


Appendix 2 – Exceptions

The following ships are exempt from compliance with the Convention:

• Shipsnotdesignedorconstructedtocarryballastwater.

• Shipsoperatingwithintheterritorialwatersoftheflagstatewithwhichtheyare registered. The flag state may require these ships to comply with the Convention based on their own judgement.

• Shipsoperatingonlyinwatersunderthejurisdictionofanotherflagstate,subject to authorisation for exclusion from the Convention by the latter flag state.

• Shipsoperatingonlyinwatersunderthejurisdictionofoneflagstateandonthe high seas, subject to authorisation by the flag state controlling the operating waters.

• Anywarship,navalauxiliaryorothershipownedoroperatedbyastateandused, for the time being, only on governmental non-commercial service.

• Shipswithpermanentballastwaterinsealedtanksthatarenotsubjecttodischarge.

Appendix 3 – How to comply with the Convention

The requirements for compliance with the Ballast Water Convention are as follows:

1. Type Approval certification for treatment systems Ships will be required to install and use a ballast water treatment system that is approved by the flag administration or a recognised organisation, and have a certificate indicating compliance with IMO resolution MEPC.174(58) or its predecessor MEPC.125(53).

2. Approved Ballast Water Management Plan (BWMP) Each ship will need to develop a Ballast Water Management Plan and have it approved by the flag administration or a recognised organisation. The plan should be developed in accordance with IMO resolution MEPC.127(53). The plans submitted for approval should include piping, electrical and control systems.

3. Ballast Water Record Book Each ship will need to have on board a Ballast Water Record Book containing the information required by the Convention, and in the required format. The Record Book may be in paper format or an electronic format approved by the administration.

4. Classification requirements for existing ships To maintain a ship in class the operator needs to submit plans and information about the ballast water treatment system and its installation to the ship’s classification society. After these have been reviewed and approved, a class surveyor will survey the installation to confirm that it is in accordance with the approved plans.

5. Certification and survey requirementsAfter the Convention has entered into force, every ship over 400 gt will be required to undergo an initial survey and be issued with an International Ballast Water Management Certificate (IBWMC) which will be valid for five years subject to annual and intermediate surveys. After five years, a renewal survey will be held; on successful completion of this survey, the IBWC will be reissued.

The initial survey will confirm that an approved Ballast Water Management Plan and Ballast Water Record Book are on board, and that the arrangements for ballast water management are as shown in the BWMP. The survey will also verify that the ballast water treatment system is operational; however, there is no requirement to prove its biological efficacy.

The annual intermediate and renewal surveys will confirm that:

• therehavebeennochangestotheballastwatermanagementarrangementsince the last survey

• anapprovedBWMPisonboard

• theballastwaterrecordbookhasbeenmaintainedandhasuptodateentries

• thetreatmentsystemisingoodconditionandhasbeenoperatedandmaintained in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions

• therearesufficientconsumablesandsparesonboardasrecommendedbythe manufacturer.

• Again,thereisnorequirementtoprovethesystem’sbiologicalefficacy.However, this may be a equirement of PSC inspections.

6. Descriptive and class notationsBWMP notation - Treatment method (T)Ships which comply with the provisions of Lloyd’s Register’s ’BWMP ShipRight procedure’ will be eligible to be assigned the BWMP descriptive note in column 6 of the Register Book. This notation denotes that the ship has a ballast water treatment system approved in accordance with regulation D-3 of the Ballast Water Management Convention.

EP Notation – supplementary character BtFor ships that have the EP notation, the supplementary character Bt will be assigned to show that the ship’s ballast water treatment system is installed, used and approved in accordance with MEPC guidelines.



Appendix 4 – Hazards and safety precautions for active chemicals used in treatment systems

The following hazard warnings and handling advice have been derived from chemical Material Safety Data Sheets and indicate some of the risks that may need to be considered when selecting treatment processes. This information is included for guidance purposes only and the manufacturer’s advice should be sought in each case as the significance of the risks will depend on the chemical compounds employed and the dilution levels used.

Manufacturer’s recommendations should also be obtained for: handling and storage of chemicals; crew safety and emergency procedures in the event of a spill, fire or explosion; and appropriate first aid measures in the event of chemicals coming into contact with the skin or being inhaled. In addition, crews should be instructed in safe handling of chemicals. In some circumstances, further safety precautions may be necessary, including the provision of special personal protective equipment located in close proximity to working areas, such as: full-face gas respirators or full body protection for dealing with leakages; eye wash stations; drenching showers; and appropriate fire fighting equipment relevant to the hazard.

Some chemical spills may require special cleaning procedures and separate storage facilities should be made available for the removal and temporary storage of clean-up residues.

Chlorine Hazards• Highlytoxic,corrosiveanddangeroustotheenvironment.• Avoidinhalation,ingestionandskincontact.• Inhalationcauseslungdamageandcanbefatal.

Handling and storage• Storeinamoisture-freeenvironment• Storagecontainers,processequipmentandpipelinesshouldbeclearlymarked.• Asaprotectivemeasureintheeventofaleakage,chlorinegasdetectorsandalarms should be fitted in working areas.

Chlorine dioxide Hazards• Verytoxicifinhaled;corrosiveandexplosive.• Asevererespiratoryandeyeirritant.•Maydecomposeexplosively;reactswithmanyorganiccompoundsandwhen in contact with reducing materials.• Decomposeswhenexposedtosunlight,ultra-violetlightandheat.

Handling and storage• Chlorinegasishighlyunstableandshouldnotbestored.• Inaqueousformstoreinacool,dry,wellventilatedareainsealedcontainers.• Shouldbestoredindilutedformtoavoidpotentialexplosionhazards.• Containersneedtobeprotectedfromphysicaldamage,lightorexposureto ignition sources.

OzoneHazards• Verytoxicifinhaled,andanirritantwhenincontactwithskinandeyes.• Unstableandmaydecomposespontaneously.• Reactsviolentlywithreducingagentssuchasorganics(forexample,smalltraces of grease may be sufficient to trigger an explosive reaction).

Handling and storage• Pipeworkshouldbemarkedtoindicatepotentialhazardandwarnoperators against intervention with piping systems.• Operatingareasneedtobewellventilated.• Ozonedetectionmonitorsmayberequiredinoperatingareasasaprotective measure in the event of a leakage.

Peracetic acid Hazards• Unstableandmayexplodeonheating;mayreactviolentlywithorganic materials and is incompatible with strong oxidizing agents. • Toxicifinhaled,ingestedorabsorbedthroughtheskin.• Causticandcorrosiveatconcentrationsgreaterthan10%.• Oxidisesincontactwithcertainmaterials(forexample,mildsteel).

Handling and storage• Storeinacoolplaceawayfromdirectsunlight.• Unusedproductmustnotbereturnedtooriginalcontainers.• Shouldbekeptawayfromcombustiblesandflammables.• Storageandhandlingareasneedtobewellventilated.


Hydrogen peroxide Hazards• Harmfulifswallowed;riskofseriousdamagetoeyes.Possibleskinor respiratory irritation.• Oxidisesincontactwithcertaincompounds;incontactwithcombustibles it may cause fire.

Handling and storage• Storeinoriginalventedcontainers,inwellventilatedcompartments.• Unusedproductshouldnotbereturnedtooriginalcontainers.• Keepawayfromheat,sparksorothersourcesorignitionsuchasstaticelectricity.

Perchloric acidHazards• Verycorrosive–causessevereburnsandisveryharmfulifinhaledoringested.• Strongoxidisingagent.• Decomposesathightemperaturestoformcorrosivegases.• Canreactviolentlyorexplosivelywithorganicorinorganicchemicals.• Contactwithcombustiblematerialscancausefireorexplosion.

Handling and storage• Ensureworkingareasarewellventilated.• Avoidcontactwithclothingorcombustiblematerials.• Storeinacool,drylocationintightlyclosedcontainers,wellawayfrom combustible materials or organic substances.•Wearrecommendedprotectiveclothingandwashwellafteruse.


For further information, please visit: www.lr.org/bwm

or contact:

Chris CampbellEnvironmental ManagerT +44 (0)20 7423 2918 F +44 (0)20 7423 2213

Lloyd’s Register, its affiliates and subsidiaries and their respective officers, employees or agents are, individually and collectively, referred to in this clause as the ‘Lloyd’s Register Group’. The Lloyd’s Register Group assumes no responsibility and shall not be liable to any person for any loss, damage or expense caused by reliance on the information or advice in this document or howsoever provided, unless that person has signed a contract with the relevant Lloyd’s Register Group entity for the provision of this information or advice and in that case any responsibility or liability is exclusively on the terms and conditions set out in that contract.

Copyright © Lloyd’s Register. 71 Fenchurch Street, London EC3M 4BS, 2010.

LR BWTS

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