BIO-UV Group has teamed up with MicroWISE to enhance ballast-water treatment solutions amid rising regulatory pressures. This partnership combines BIO-UV’s BIO-SEA technology with MicroWISE’s real-time organism analysis, addressing compliance challenges and improving operational efficiency at ports. Together, they aim to advance research and streamline treatment processes for non-compliant ballast water.
The updated guidelines for ship operators include new ballast water record books and a Ballast Water Reporting Form for vessels entering ports. While tank-by-tank logs are recommended, they are not mandatory. Some stakeholders support the changes for sustainability, but others worry about administrative burdens and inspection delays. The technical assistance for new protocols is available.
Over 30% of ballast water treatment systems fail Port State Control D-2 compliance inspections, despite passing commissioning tests. Global TestNet data revealed that 29% to 44% of operational systems are failing to remove invasive species, with over 100 organisms found in every 1m3 of treated water. Non-compliance reasons include contamination, regrowth, and human error.
