ballast water and marine invasive species

Olivia OrtegaInternational Business and Logistics

Graduating Class of 2010California Maritime Academy

OutlineBallast Water and Vessel FoulingCase Studies involving Marine Organisms

Prevention and Regulations in California

International Maritime Organization

Research & Technology

Ballast WaterFresh or salt water held in tanks and

cargo holds of ships to increase stability and maneuverability during transit

Vessels can take on, discharge, or shift their ballast water when cargo is being loaded and unloaded, as they encounter rough seas, or as the vessel conveys through shallow coastal waterways.

Ballast Water

Vessel FoulingFouling organisms attach themselves to

submerged hard surfaces, such as ships. Marine organisms that attach include small

fish, barnacles, mussels, sponges, algae, crabs and sea squirts.

When these organisms attach to vessels, they are easily introduced into new waters when the vessel is moved from port to port.

Vessel Fouling

Case Studies: Zebra MusselsTransported via ballast water

from the Caspian Sea region to the Great Lakes in America.

The first sightings of zebra mussels were in Lake St. Clair in 1988.

Immediately began to multiply.Female produce between 30,000

to 1 million eggs per year.

Zebra Mussels

Zebra MusselsThe U.S. has spent the last 20 years spending

millions of dollars in trying to find a way to eradicate or decrease the amount of zebra mussels.

Unfortunately, with the technology currently available, we have yet to find that procedure. There are several ways the United States is currently using to try and control the amount of zebra mussels in the Great Lakes and to prevent the spreading of zebra mussels.

Prevention & Regulations in CACalifornia State Lands

CommissionBallast Water

Management for Control of Non-Indigenous Species Act Ballast Water

ExchangesAssembly Bill 433

Prevention & Regulations in CAAssembly Bill 248The bill requires incoming

vessels carrying or capable of carrying ballast water to provide certain information to the California State Lands Commission when departing each port.

The purpose of this regulation is to move the state towards elimination of the discharge of non-indigenous species into California waters.

International Maritime OrganizationConvention for the Control and Management of

Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments.Requires vessels to conduct a ballast water

exchange at least 50 nautical miles from the shore in waters at least 200 meters in depth.

The requirements vary between ships depending on when they were constructed. Ships that reach these specific requirements are required to be surveyed and certified, as well as be inspected by port State control officers who should verify that they have onboard a valid certificate, ballast water record book, and sample the ballast water.

International Maritime OrganizationThis Convention

becomes effective after one year when the ratification by 30 countries occurs.

Unfortunately, only 18 countries have ratified.

This represents less than 16 percent of the world shipping tonnage.

Research & TechnologyIn 2005, the company Ecochlor tested their

first ballast water treatment technology aboard Matson Navigation Inc. M/V Moku Pahu.

The Ecochlor Ballast Water Treatment System uses a filtration technology that regularly cleans the ballast water with chlorine dioxide that results in a diluted solution.

Their research showed that chloride dioxide worked effectively against marine invasive species such as zooplankton, phytoplankton and some microorganisms.

Research & TechnologyN.E.I. Treatment Systems manufactured

water treatment technology called Venturi Oxygen Stripping.

This equipment treats the ballast water before it is entered into the tank by dissolving 95% of the oxygen in the water.

Research is also currently being conducted on the claim that this technology also reduces corrosion in the ships ballast water tanks under specified conditions.

Research & TechnologyBEAM (Ballast Water Exchange Meter)The BEAM is designed to measure the

amount of colored dissolved organic matter in ballast water.

It is a handheld, portable technology that can measure the ultraviolet light as well as the fluorescence to generate a response as to whether or not the ballast water exchange was performed in open ocean water or along the coast.

Research & TechnologyFive sampling teams

along the east and west coast tested the BEAM technology for about six months in 2009. In June, 2009 the BEAMS were sent back to Dakota Technologies to get a final report on how the BEAM performed.

Thank youInternational Association of Maritime

UniversitiesCalifornia State Lands CommissionThe California Maritime Academy and

President Bill EisenhardtDr. Donna Nincic