OceanSaver wins IMO approval

Norwegian based OceanSaver AS, which developed the natural, environmental-friendly and corrosion reducing ballast water management system OceanSaver, was recently granted final approval from the IMO at the latest meeting of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 58) in London this month.

The Ballast Water Working Group of the Joint Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Environment Protection, which advises the MEPC, had carefully studied OceanSaver’s application for final approval in July this year, and recommended that the MEPC grant this approval at its meeting in October. With final approval from MEPC, Norwegian authorities can grant type approval to the technology before year’s end.

“This culminates, successfully, many years of effort and many thousands of hours of work on the part of our staff and partners,” said OceanSaver Managing Director Stein Foss. “With final approval from the IMO’s marine environment protection committee and type approval from DNV, we can offer the market a ballast water management system that accords with all applicable regulation now and into the future, and a solution that is optimal for marine applications.”

After the MEPC meeting, there are four ballast water management systems with final approval according to the strict performance standards laid down in the IMO convention on ballast water treatment. This convention is still subject to ratification by 30 member governments representing 35% of commercial tonnage, though it is believed that many nations hesitate to ratify before approved technology is available.

With approval for systems like OceanSaver’s, ratification is expected to accelerate. At MEPC 58, three additional nations ratified the convention, bringing the total to 16 nations representing 14.2% cent of global tonnage.