USCG confirms fourth BWMS approval application
The company, a division of China Shipbuilding Industry Co, received IMO final approval for the BalClor system – which employs a three-step process of filtration, electro-chlorination and neutralisation – in October 2010. It has subsequently been type approved by several class societies, and in April 2013 was accepted as an alternative management system (AMS) under the USCG regime.
Sunrui is the second electro-chlorination system manufacturer to file for final type approval. The other, OceanSaver, received notification of its approval in late December. UV treatment systems Optimarin OBS and Alfa Laval PureBallast 3 have also received type approval.
In the announcement, the USCG said: “The [USCG] Marine Safety Center will review the application for compliance with USCG regulations. Once it has been determined that the application meets the requirements, the Marine Safety Center will issue a type approval certificate.”
The news comes as the USCG has begun planning for entering ‘post type approval extension regime’, according to Paul Thomas, assistant commandant for prevention policy. In an article for the North American Marine Environment Protection Association, Thomas said that the type approvals meant that the process of vessels applying for an extension to their compliance date had become more onerous.
“Operators can no longer request an extension simply citing there is no Coast Guard type approved system available,” he said. “Each extension request requires an explicit statement supported by documentary evidence that one of the accepted methods in the regulations, including installation of a Coast Guard type approved system, is not possible for purposes of compliance with the regulatory implementation schedule.”
Batch extension applications for vessels are no longer available, Thomas noted, adding that vessels with a foreign (IMO) type approved system installed that has been accepted as an AMS would likely not receive extensions as they are already considered to be in compliance. Vessels can use the AMS for up to five years after their compliance date.
To date the USCG has received more than 13,000 requests for extensions to vessel compliance dates, granted just under 12,000 requests, and recently denied nine requests, Thomas added. The USCG will issue guidance and clarifications on its compliance programme and compliance date extensions this year.
