In a landmark move the US Coast Guard (USCG) Marine Safety Centre on Friday issued its first ballast water management system (BWMS) type-approval certificate.
The honour went to Optimarin AS of Norway for its UV-based treatment system called Optimarin Ballast System (OBS).
The movement towards ballast water management is intended to limit the threat of harmful invasive aquatic species carried in ballast tanks.
Optimarin had to meet some stringent standards set by the USCG.
Issuance of this certificate is a bug step forward for the worldwide implementation of the IMO’s Ballast Water Management Convention of 2004, which is set to enter into force in September 2017.
