Stemming the Tide Controlling Introductions of Nonindigenous Species by Ships' Ballast Water (1996) / Chapter Skim
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3 MANAGING BALLAST WATER
3 MANAGING BALLAST WATER
Pages 32-51
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From page 32... ...
The process of managing ballast water should prevent introductions of nonindigenous species, including bacteria, viruses, algae, protists, invertebrates, and fish. An important corollary is that no control options practiced today totally prevent the unintentional introduction of nonindigenous aquatic nuisance organisms through ships' ballast operations.
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From page 33... ...
A plan for managing ballast water, developed in conjunction with the ship cargo plan, would assist the ship's master in adjusting ballast loading and discharging needs to meet constraints on ballasting in these locations. In addition, a requirement for official logs indicating when and where ballast was taken on or discharged would be helpful for implementing existing (and future)
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From page 35... ...
global "hot spots" where targeted organisms are known to be present in the water column · ports with high sediment loads · areas of sewage discharge or known incidence of disease · certain sites at certain times of year, depending on seasonal variations in populations of organisms · at night, when some planktonic organisms migrate higher up the water column Despite concerns about nonindigenous species, ships may need to take on ballast water in port to preserve safety. The need for ballast to ensure ship safety during cargo loading and unloading imposes practical restrictions on available control options (see Chapter 2, Ballast Conditions in Port)
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From page 36... ...
Shipboard Treatment Once ballast water has been loaded on board, the ideal mechanism for preventing subsequent introductions of nonindigenous aquatic species is to kill or remove the organisms prior to discharging ballast water overboard. This can be done by chemical, physical, mechanical, or biological treatments, or by any treatment combination.
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From page 37... ...
New ocean water Original water 1 tank exchange 2 tank exchanges 3 tank exchanges Option 2 Continuous flushing FIGURE 3-2 Basic options for changing ballast water. Note: The effectiveness of ballast water change using continuous flushing has been monitored using a dye tracer.
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From page 38... ...
For maximum flexibility in managing ballast water during transit, a vessel needs both onboard treatment methods and ballast change. If acquainted with all the accepted options available for a particular voyage, the master would be able to plan ballast operations to minimize the risk of introducing nonindigenous aquatic organisms.
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From page 39... ...
When developing contingency plans, port administrations need to be watchful to ensure that this approach to managing ballast water does not become a routine, accepted control option for arriving ships. If vessels routinely depart port to change ballast there could be serious delays in cargo operations, which would, in the end, work to the severe disadvantage of the ship, the cargo owners, and ultimately the port administration.
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From page 40... ...
Such reception facilities were required under Annex I of MARPOL 73/78. It may be possible to modify these facilities to incorporate a ballast water treatment facility to remove unwanted nonindigenous aquatic organisms.
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From page 41... ...
Some specific examples of control options for managing ballast water that may minimize or prevent the unintentional introduction of nonindigenous aquatic nuisance organisms are given below: .
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From page 42... ...
These organizations have given much attention to controlling introductions of nonindigenous species by ships' ballast operations. The approaches described in this report generally are compatible with options for managing ballast water that are currently under discussion globally and regionally.
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From page 43... ...
The Marine Environment Protection Committee of IMO is currently drafting regulations for a new proposed annex to MARPOL 73/78 dealing with the ballast water issue. This annex, which will employ the guidelines strategy, will make use of the guidelines mandatory.
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From page 44... ...
101-646 (the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1990) aimed at preventing future introductions of harmful aquatic nonindigenous species and controlling existing unintentional introductions.
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From page 45... ...
REGIONAL, STATE, AND LOCAL ACTIVITIES There have been several regional approaches aimed at controlling introductions of aquatic nuisance species by ships' ballast operations, notably in the Great Lakes and Chesapeake Bay. Such initiatives are aimed at guiding those states that wish to cooperatively develop and implement regional plans for managing ballast water.
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From page 46... ...
Contingency plans have been developed in case the Ruffe becomes established in inland waters.7 In 1993, the Chesapeake Bay Program, a regional organization committed to the restoration of the Bay, adopted a policy that lays out a framework of cooperative management approaches and public outreach efforts for introductions of aquatic nonindigenous species (Chesapeake Bay Commission, 19921. The policy guides the signatory parties of Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia in the development and implementation of management plans for both intentional and unintentional introductions.
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From page 47... ...
However, this approach would not be effective since coastal traffic and natural currents would disperse organisms to the closed port. The above arguments militate strongly in favor of a coordinated, international approach to the development of a regulatory framework for managing ballast water.
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From page 48... ...
Management and staff of shore-based treatment facilities will also require appropriate training, as will regulatory personnel charged with the administration of and compliance with ballast water guidelines. RISK-BASED PERSPECTIVE ON MANAGING BALLAST WATER The total prevention of unwanted introductions of nonindigenous aquatic species cannot be guaranteed.
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From page 49... ...
The Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force is developing a generic risk analysis for nonindigenous aquatic organisms (Risk Assessment and Management Committee, 1995~. In Australia, the coastal water guidelines working group is developing a voyage risk assessment and management process.
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so STEMMING THE TIDE
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From page 51... ...
1995. The Proposed Nonindigenous Aquatic Organisms Risk Analysis Review Process.
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