International Ballast Technology Investment Fair

September 20-21, 2001, Chicago Navy Pier

Sponsored by the Northeast-Midwest Institute, Lakes Carriers' Association

Funded by the Great Lakes Protection Fund

Click on speakers names in the agenda below to see their presentations in full

On September 21, the Northeast Midwest Institute and the Lake Carriers' Association jointly hosted the International Ballast Technology Investment Fair in Chicago, Illinois. The purpose of the event, funded by the Great Lakes Protection Fund, was to help launch a strong ballast water treatment industry that can meet future demands, including ballast water effectiveness standards and carrier requirements. The 80 participants comprised ballast water treatment vendors, shipowners, naval architects, investors, scientists and state and federal policymakers.

Morning speakers presented recent technology evaluation findings, a global market analysis for ballast treatment systems, and the engineering and operational requirements of ship-owners for treatment system installations. Special recognition was given to all those involved in pioneering effects to install full-scale technology installations on ships. The Stolt-Nielsen Company received an award for agreeing to install the first mechanical/physical ballast water treatment system on a ship visiting the Great Lakes. Other carriers involved in this session were BP Amoco, FedNav, Matson Navigation, Polar Tankers, and Princess Cruise Lines.

During lunch, participants heard presentations on California's regulatory program, which requires all ships entering their waters to perform some form of treatment or exchange, and the efforts of both the U.S. Coast Guard and the IMO to develop standards and certification techniques for ballast management.

Afternoon speakers focused on the needs of technology enterprises attempting to bring new inventions to market. The first session addressed ways to successfully market technologies and included discussions on commercialization, licensing, proprietary issues, and policy and research
needs. Speakers of the second session represented the world of seed and venture capital and provided practical advise on how and when to raise money through both public and private investment sources.

During the entire Fair, vendors displayed their treatment systems and there were many opportunities to network and develop relationships that will be important as we move forward on ballast water standards. General conclusions from this event were 1) the threat of ballast-mediated transfers of aquatic species is real and growing over time, and the damage to receiving systems is costly and permanent, requiring the intervention of government and industry worldwide; 2) promising technological solutions exist, and data from early installations on ships will help fill the tool box with effective ballast treatment methods; 3) there is significant
momentum to move ahead with treatment technology installations on ships, however regulatory uncertainties and governments' mixed messages to shipowners and technology vendors are a major hurdle to private investment; and 4) much can be done now to support research and development efforts in the period prior to private investment, and to organize and strengthen the vendor organizations so that they will be in a position to supply technologies once a standard is set.

You can view all of the presentations and the global market analysis by clicking on the links below. Also, the proceedings were reported by CQD Journal and can be found by clicking on the "CQD Journal" link.