Reporting by Chris Swanson,
Managing Editor, CQD Journal
Alexandria,VA If you're in shipping, today was the day to be
in Alexandria. The special session titled "Ships as a Vector for Invasive Species Transfer" was structured to provide a wide variety of topics for shipping interests. The main focus was invasive species in
ballast water and invasive species on the fouled hulls of ships. Experts from around the globe provided the latest information on ballast water standards, technologies and treatments. 
The keynote speaker of the day, Admiral James Loy of the US Coast Guard reassured the audience that marine environmental
issues remain a priority with the USCG. After September 11th the USCG has focused on maritime security and Loy said the emphasis will be on security for quite some time. However, he
said aquatic nuisance species is the commandant's number one environmental priority. For those who missed it, CQD Journal was there to provide details on what's hot and
what those interested in shipping need to watch.
The following reports are based on presentations made at the 11th International Conference
on Aquatic Invasive Species, February 27, 2002. Opinions and estimates are those of the
Presenter's unless otherwise noted. CQD Journal for the Maritime Environment Industry makes no assertions as to the validity of the statements or opinions and cannot be held
responsible for any of the information or claims contained therein. We make every effort to report as accurately as possible, as presented by the speakers during the session. Presentations:Ballast Water Management on a Global Level as presented by Adnan AwadA Vision of Progress for Ballast Water Management as presented by Scott SmithRegulation of Ballast Water Discharges as presented by Lisa BrautigamHow will New Regulations on Ballast Management Impact the Operation of a Worldwide fleet of Ro-Ro and Car Carriers as presented by Knut SamuelsenThe Potential for the IMO Antifouling Convention to Promote the Introduction of Invasive Species as presented by Michael ChampHull Fouling as a Vector for Introduction of Non-indigenous Species as presented by Elizabeth Haslbeck & Dana Lynn
Ballast Water Management on a Global Level as presented by Adnan Awad,
IMO, Cape Town, South Africa. Email address: adawad@mcm.wcape.gov.za
 Last March, CQD Journal reported from the Globallast Symposium at the headquarters of the International Maritime Organization (see
http://www.cqdjournal.com/World_Wire_Events/balla st-imo/ballast-imo.htm.
) Adnan Awad updated listeners to what Globallast has initiated around the world's ports. One of the key functions of IMO's Globallast program is
to bring ballast water management to less developed countries. Invasive species awareness is a global problem that necessitates collaborative ballast water practices and regulations in all ports of the world.
Awad said IMO has begun pilot programs in Brazil, China, India, Iran, South Africa and the Ukraine. They intend to train and augment local ports by completing
surveys, risk assessments, and community awareness programs. In the long run, he said they hope to avoid non-standardized approaches to ballast water regulations and to establish regional collaboration.
A Vision of Progress for Ballast Water Management as presented by Scott Smith, Washington Dept. of Fish & Wildlife, smithsss@dfw.wa.gov
Not many governments have established a standard by which ballast water treatment can be measured. Scott Smith discussed one of the few. In a recently
passed Ballast Water Management Law, the State of Washington established a treatment standard of 95% removal of zooplankton and 90% removal of phytoplankton for ballast water technologies.
Smith said the treatment efficiency standard arose out of discussions with the Globallast Standards Working Group at their meeting in London in March 2001. He
said the standards are only a beginning and will likely change when IMO can establish international standards. Smith outlined other issues in the Washington Ballast Water Management Law. It
mandates BW reporting on all vessels foreign and domestic, however it makes a unique exclusion. If a ship will not be discharging ballast water in Washington, it does not have to file a ballast water report.
Ballast water reports must show verification that the ship has performed open ocean ballast water exchange. Ships that are unable to perform BW exchange will have to
use a form of BW treatment by July 2004.
Regulation of Ballast Water Discharges
as presented by Lisa Brautigam, McElroy Law Firm PLC. Email address:
lbrautigam@mcelroylaw.com
The confusion surrounding the legal side of the ballast water regulatory battles staggers just about everybody. Fortunately, Brautigam clarified the issue by
identifying the main pathways that ballast water legal battles have ensued. She also provided some insight into what are the weaknesses of each pathway.
According to Brautigam, regulatory efforts can be grouped into four main categories: litigation, local regulations, national regulations and international regulatory efforts.
Litigation involves petitions to EPA or other direct case-by-case law suits. This path is very costly and time consuming and will lead to inconsistent decisions by different courts.
Local regulatory efforts have been very effective thus far in providing momentum to cr eate change in the ballast water area. Brautigam said the problem is inconsistency within states and with the Federal government. Local efforts may also
encourage ports and states to compete against each other to get business. Less stringent states may get more business until all states in a geographic region pass similar laws.
National regulatory efforts have the same weaknesses of local efforts if all nations do not enact similar requirements. Resource disparities occur where less developed
countries cannot get to the same level of enforcement and regulations as more developed ones. Some countries may intentionally hold out in order to get a competitive advantage.
Brautigam said it is very important to find "lurking stakeholders" and bring them into the regulatory process as soon as possible. She said there may be stakeholders in the
ballast water arena who are "lurking", i.e. they are not participating even though they have a vested interest. Lurking stakeholders can frustrate years of efforts when
they jump in and demand last minute changes to legislation. Other recommendations Brautigam made were to identify the economic costs, be
flexible, consider the long-term benefits of international regulatory efforts, and maximize resources by remaining objective. How will New Regulations on Ballast Management Impact the Operation of a Worldwide fleet of Ro-Ro and Car Carriers
, as presented by Knut
Samuelsen, Wallenius Wilhelmsen Li nes, Norway.
Email address: Knut.R.Samuelsen@2wglobal.com Samuelsen outlined the many numbers of countries that currently have ballast water regulations and the
problems a ship owner has to comply with all of them. He described Wallenius Wilhelmsen's (W&W) ballast water management plan, which is followed on all of their ships.
The main method W&W uses for combating invasive species is the empty-refill method of ballast water open ocean exchange. Samuelsen
said they are waiting to see what new technologies emerge that will meet reference performance criteria. In the meantime, W&W has tested a number of technologies aboard their own
vessels. One full scale testing of an ozonation technology was recently completed. Sameulsen said they found it very hard to get the technology to work in a shipping
environment. W&W is also helping in the Volvo Ocean Advocate program by setting up instruments aboard a number of their vessel to globally monitor phytoplankton in ballast tanks. The Potential for the IMO Antifouling Convention to Promote the
Introduction of Invasive Species as presented by Michael Champ, ATRP Corp.
Email address: machamp@aol.com
Hull Fouling as a Vector for Introduction of Non-indigenous Species as presented by Elizabeth Haslbeck, Naval Surface Warfare Center &
Dana Lynn, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division
Email address: haslbeckeg@nswccd.navy.mil
Email address: lynndc@nswccd.navy.mil Haslbeck and Champ made separate presentations on a topic of invasive species not
often discussed - exotic invaders carried on the hulls of ships. Studies have documented the potential for an increase in hull fouling due to the new IMO
Convention banning certain antifouling marine paints. This in turn may increase the risks of invasive species from such fouling.
Champ said the IMO process is like watching marching bands in a parade. The band at the front of the line doesn't know or care what the band at the back of the parade is
doing. He equated this to the Anti-fouling Working Group at IMO, whose ban on organotin marine paints will create additional problems for the Invasive Species
Working Group. The Anti-fouling Working Group refused to consider the hull fouling invasive species problems that a ban on marine paints may create. He said, "they
only were looking at the inside of the ship [ballast water tanks], now we will need to look at the outside." In her discussion, Haslbeck made an excellent point when comparing ballast water
nuisance species with hull fouling ones. "All vessels foul," she said "but not all use ballast water." She noted that the ultimate goal at IMO is the reduction or eventual elimination of
biocides to control ship fouling. For this  reason she said, we need to better
understand what is being carried on the hulls of our ships. According to Haslbeck, less toxic systems will potentially increase the risk of transport of non-indigenous species. This
means ships will likely require more frequent dry-docking to remove excess hull fouling. Hull cleaning increases the risks of aquatic invasive species because it takes tons of fouling off the ship and dumps
this directly into the port. More to come… The afternoon sessions for February 28, 2002 provided some excellent first hand
information for ship owners regarding field tests for ballast water treatment technologies. CQD Journal will update this section in the coming days. |
