Retrofit bottlenecks raise ballast water risks for shipowners

Both the IMO and USCG provide clear standards for treatment that must be met, as well as administrative requirements for crew and operators.

This clarity means that BWMS manufacturers know the standard they must meet to be compliant, and shipowners will know which systems they must install to meet the regulations. There are still some questions surrounding compliance testing, and thus a shipowner’s ability to minimise the risk caused by a testing error.

BWMS retrofits are expected to peak over the next few years. This increased demand is being heightened further by the temporary extensions offered to some shipowners, allowing them to delay BWMS installations during the COVID-19 crisis. Shipowners today face two challenges – securing BWMS systems, “one time right” installation and ensuring that the systems remain operationally compliant.

Planning for retrofits

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, we were expecting to see bottlenecks for BWMS retrofits from 2021. As the expected peak in demand has been heightened, the bottlenecks could mean shipowners facing expensive layups for their vessels.

Shipowners who have been given permission to delay their retrofits today need to be aware of these impending bottlenecks.

These issues extend to spare parts and maintenance. The expansion of demand has left some suppliers unable to provide parts in quantities demanded by the market, while production and logistics pressures caused by the crisis have caused acute problems in some regions. This is occurring while travel restrictions are making maintenance a minefield for owners.

Preparation and planning are vital for navigating these administrative challenges. Shipowners need to ensure that they have secured retrofits in advance and have continual access to appropriate aftermarket support. This requires robust technical and supply chain planning.

Planning for operational compliance

However, investing in the correct system is no guarantee of compliance. The BWMS must not only treat the ballast water to the appropriate standard, it must be operable. The American Bureau of Shipping’s “ABS Best Practices for Operations of Ballast Water Management Systems Report”, released last year, highlights these operational challenges for shipowners. The survey found that 59% of shipowners reported operational problems with their BWMS, while 6% reported completely inoperable systems.

It is estimated that one fifth of systems are not operational upon commissioning. Often it is hard to tell that these systems are not operable. The seventh session of the IMO’s Pollution Prevention and Response committee (PPR 7) agreed a new indicative standard for commissioning testing earlier this year to ensure that systems are operational at the point of commissioning. Per IMO document BWM.2/Circ.70, new systems installed after October 2021 will require performance testing at commissioning.

Training is one of the most important tools that shipowners have for maintaining compliance. When a crew is able to adequately operate and maintain a BWMS, they are less likely to make mistakes or misinterpret data – making a non-compliant discharge less likely. At the same time, proper training enables crew members to recognise issues with their system. Good training provides crews with a broad knowledge about the USCG and IMO regulations and enables them to better solve any problems that arise and communicate more effectively with Port Authorities.

There are over 100 models of BWMS on the market which are all operated differently and have different maintenance requirements. This creates a significant administrative challenge for shipowners, while the array of types of training available continue to grow. These issues are compounded by current travel restrictions, which make it difficult to secure relevant training. Furthermore, as seafarers change vessels throughout their careers at sea the urgency for proper training also extends to ensuring that training is updated and detailed records are kept to ensure that appropriate training has been completed.

Where there are many forms of operational non-compliance that could leave an operator in hot water, inadequate or inappropriate crew training is likely to be the next issue that authorities clamp down on. This is partly because it is easy for authorities to prove, and partly because it represents a key link in the chain; an otherwise functioning BWMS will not be compliant if a crew do not know how to use it.

Cutting risk

Forward thinking is the only option for shipowners wishing to ensure they do not fall victim to the hidden risks associated with BWMS crew training, retrofits and maintenance.

BWMS suppliers have a responsibility to ensure that they do all they can to support shipowners as much as possible. At De Nora, we provide this support by taking an active, honest role throughout the installation and compliance process.

To support this, we provide comprehensive training alongside any installation. We also provide Remote Condition Monitoring as standard with our BALPURE system, which allows experts to analyse vital system data remotely and provide detailed guidance and feedback to crew. Specialists are able to use this data for preventive or corrective maintenance, reducing the risk of failures and boosting efficiency.

We believe that our responsibility as a dedicated supplier and partner should span from the selection of a BALPURE system to the end of life of the vessel.

Operators are having to deal with incredibly difficult market conditions. Margins are being squeezed tighter than ever while several keystone regulations enter into force. Ballast water regulations have the potential to create significant additional costs, and the industry must do everything it can to help owners through this. Risks to operational compliance as well as to retrofits and maintenance can be mitigated today by suppliers acting as trusted partners and with forward planning.