The Evolving World of BWMS Approvals

Revisions to the Guideline 8 (G8) type approval procedures for ballast water management systems (BWMS) were recently completed during the seventieth session of the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 70).  Key changes to G8 and their potential to impact the testing and availability of approved BWMS are considered.  The additional approvals, such as US Coast Guard type approval, classification society approvals, and flag State approvals that BWMS manufacturers are required to obtain are also proving to be evolutionary.  These various BWMS approvals, their complexities and how they interplay with each other are discussed.  Further, conceptual solutions related to streamlining BWMS approvals in support of ballast water regulation implementation are presented.