Status of Research and Development
in Ballast Treatment Technologies

Presentation by Allegra Cangelosi
August 25, 1999

I. 1999 -- State of the Art in Ballast Water Management

A. Several tools, each with serious limitations (Overhead 1)

• High Seas BWE (transoceanic only, safety limitations)
• Near Shore BWE (Gulf of St. Lawrence, only)
• Retention on Board (some container ships only)
• General Precautionary Practices (marginal utility)

B. State of the Art not adequately comprehensive, flexible, redundant

II. The hoped for solution is to add ballast treatment to the mix

A. US law (NANPCA, NISA) and IMO guidelines all plan and provide for it

B. NRC report, USCG "Shipping Study" report several potential options

III. Treatment can take a variety of forms

A. Mechanical, photoelectric, chemical

B. NANPCA, NISA -- require that the treatment be as effective as BWE, and environmentally sound (in addition to meeting env. laws) emphasis on non-chemical/integrated pest management (Overhead 1)

C. Could be Shoreside or On-Board

D. Would be used alone and together with other options

IV. State of Research

A. Most work on on-board treatment, but some on shore-side

B. Technologies of interest: Heat, UV, Filtration, Cyclonic separation, UltraSound/Ozonation, Biocides

C. Pilot, and Shipboard research planned or underway

D. Status: Completed (filtration, heat), Underway (UV, shoreside feasibility), Pending (much) (Overhead 2 and Overhead 3)

V. Pioneer research: Great Lakes Ballast Technology Demonstration Project (filtration study)

(Slides)

A. Mechanical and biological effectiveness

B. On-board and pilot tests

C. Findings reported in abstracts on Website (www.nemw.org under Biological Pollution)

VI. Priorities for Research -- We need standard effectiveness and environmental soundness criteria; and criteria for screening research proposals for quality

A. Possible effectiveness criteria (Overhead 4)

• Meet or exceed baseline effectiveness of BWE in terms of efficiency at killing or removing organisms within major taxonomic groupings (microbes, phytoplankton, zooplankton, larger organisms). Baseline effectiveness will vary from vessel class to vessel class.
• Use can be monitored by USCG
• Operationally feasible and safe for vessel and crew (cleass society certification)
• Applicable to as many or more voyages than BWE (on a per vessel basis)

B. Possible criteria for environmentally sound (Overhead 5)

• Does not violate US or international environmental laws
• Non-chemical emphasis
• Equal or less impact on receiving systems than BWE
• Note: bio effectiveness NOT a criterion; independent criteria, no trade-offs

C. Standards for quality research (Overhead 6)

• Partnership (industry/resource protection interests)
• Meets Legal (environmental, safety) Requirements
• Prospects at Full-Scale (enough to garner industry interest)
• In Context (not redundant)
• Scientifically Solid (subject to peer review)

Overhead 1
According to the National Invasive Species Act:

A ship may ...

"use environmentally sound alternative ballast water management methods if the Secretary determines that such alternative methods are as effective as ballast water exchange in preventing and controlling infestations of aquatic nuisance species."

The definition of environmentally sound is ...

"methods, efforts, actions or programs to prevent introductions or control infestations of aquatic nuisance species that minimizes adverse impacts to the structure and function of an ecosystem and adverse effects on non-target organisms and ecosystems and emphasizes integrated pest management techniques and nonchemical measures."

Overhead 2

Overhead 3
Ongoing Research Elsewhere

Singapore - Repetitive Bench-Scale Trials of Various Technologies
Norway - Biological Efficacy of UV
Germany - Efficacy of Various Chemical Treatments
Japan - Electrolytic Treatment
Brazil - Ballast Tank Modifications to Facilitate BWE
Canada - Thermal Treatment
Australia - Decision Support System (Hazard Assessment)

Overhead 4
Possible Effectiveness Criteria?

• Meets or exceeds baseline effectiveness of BWE in terms of efficiency at killing or removing organisms within major taxonomic groupings (microbes, phytoplankton, zooplankton, larger organisms). Baseline effectiveness will vary from vessel class to vessel class.
• Use can be monitored by USCG
• Operationally feasible and safe for vessel and crew (cleass society certification)
• Applicable to as many or more voyages than BWE (on a per vessel basis)

Overhead 5
Criteria for Environmental Soundness?

• Does not violate US or international environmental laws
• Non-chemical emphasis (integrated pest management approach if chemicals are used)
• Minimizes adverse impacts to receiving systems (no more impact than BWE with impact on receiving systems no greater than BWE

Overhead 6
Standards for Quality Research

• Partnership
• Legal Requirements
• Prospects at Full-Scale
• In Context
• Scientifically Sound