Ballast water treatment suppliers plan lobby group

The association, provisionally called the Ballast Water Equipment Manufacturers’ Association, will strive to gain a seat at IMO discussions as well as providing a single source for non-commercial technical guidance.

The core group working on the initiative are Mark Riggio, senior market manager, Hyde Marine; Steve Candito, CEO, Ecochlor; and Marcie Merksamer, vice president, EnviroManagement. Riggio told The Motorship that the group had already received responses from more than a dozen BWMS providers.

The organisation will be focused on equipment manufacturers, but Riggio noted that any industry stakeholder in the ballast water treatment market – including engineering firms, installers, component manufacturers, and government officials – will be eligible to join.

The founding group is in the process of finalising bylaws and administrative details. The first meeting of the group has been scheduled to coincide with the upcoming meeting of the IMO’s Pollution Prevention and Response sub-committee in London on 5-9 February.