A packed week of ballast water activities concluded on Friday 29 January with closing remarks by Mr. Miguel Palomares, Director, Marine Environment Division, IMO.
The ballast water week started with a first ever global forum for facilities involved in the testing of ballast water treatment systems (24-25 January). The forum, where most of the world?s active and planned test facilities took place, discussed possibilities to harmonize the testing and reporting procedures.
The Test Facility Forum was followed by a Pre-conference expert workshop on proving equivalency between IMO Guidelines G8/G9 approved treatment systems and alternative management options. The workshop, with some 70 participants, was moderated by Mr. Brian Elliott, EMSA, with presentations from Mr. Dandu Pughiuc (IMO), Mr. Jan Linders (GESAMP BWWG Chairman), Dr. Rob Hilliard (consultant to the GIA and GloBallast), Professor Peilin Zhu (consultant to the GIA and GloBallast). A very interesting and stimulating discussion followed.
(Image courtesy of WMU)
The Global R&D Forum on Emerging BWM Systems was held from 27 to 29 January, and was intended to provide a possibility to showcase the new and emerging systems, which could complement the systems reviewed, tested and approved under the G8/G9 Guidelines of the BWM Convention. The Forum brought together the international community engaged in developing innovative ballast water management systems, including alternative management systems, providing an open debate and review of the existing and emerging systems and the way forward to push the technology envelope to meet the challenges of ballast water management. In addition, it allowed for a stock-taking on what we have learned so far, and a discussion on the possibilities and challenges ahead.
Approximately 240 participants attended the Forum. GloBallast PCU would like to thank the co-organizers and sponsors, namely the World Maritime University (WMU) the Global Industry Alliance (GIA), APL, BP Shipping, Daewoo Shipbuilding &Marine Engineering, Vela Marine International, Malm?ty, the Interreg Ballast Water Opportunity project, Wilhelmsen Ships Equipment AS and Respartner AB.
The next major BWM event will be the 5th International Conference & Exhibition on Ballast Water Management (ICBWM 2010), in Singapore, 1-4 November 2010. See
www.ballast2010.com for details!
