Different View on System Commissioning Work in BWTS.

The mandatory period on ballast water treatment system adoption has been quite long so far, but there’re still lots of confusion on some specific wording interpretation applied to any players in this market to be adopted additionally. Through this chance, I would like to bring up one of controvertible subject. That’s sampling test adoption. Before getting into the practical session, the point to let me bring up this is that we, Panasia, have been in a cooperative position in all hands-on deck to overcome this as the most reliable maker in BWTS.

Speaking of sampling test enforcement, biological testing for IMO D2 standards is required in the commissioning phase and before the International Ballast Water Management Certificate is issued. As of June 1st 2022, commissioning sampling is compulsory and cannot be organized by the maker, but shipowner side. As per regulations, analyses should be conducted on Total heterotrophic bacteria, E. Coli and Enterococci. it was approved that sampling process shall be one of the mandatory process in BWM Convention. As per BWM.2/Circ.70/Rev.1, validation is successful if the water sample does not exceed D2 standards and the self-monitoring equipment indicates correct operation. Most flag states require indicative sampling on board the vessel, therefore laboratory testing is not required unless the water fails the onboard indicative sampling. The current exception to this rule is for Cyprus flag vessels that require laboratory testing as part of the commissioning process.

This sampling test is a response on huge demands from the market to ask for the efficiency of operating the system as evidence to clarify their huge investment on environmental regulation, but the view on this opinion from the maker, the system validation, efficiency are fully proved by the official process of type approval to be spent lots of times and costs to be major standard ballast water treatment system design, operating limits. The commissioning process is to show the system performance set on the type approval process’s criteria. The sampling is a tool of the wider commissioning testing range than the maker’s responsibility not to be covered by them mechanically, biologically. 

The current status pertaining to sampling test process based on our alive market feedback is that many players in the market asked us about made-to-measure process to verify the system operational performance under the appearance of the official parties like Flag, Class even with them for fear any failure. Also, rising voice on requiring the effective testing workflow from the early mover who installed BWTS on their good vessels has been received because of ticking up operational issues in this industry. 

Let me explain very briefly the general sampling process and work scope clarification. A sampling water would be generally collected during ballast water uptake. This can be handled with any available ways in the port or in-take place. An indicative analysis is sufficient to characterize the water in the area where to take the water, so no detailed analysis of the uptake water is required. The sample ballast water discharge should be collected after a full approved treatment process has been applied, in accordance with G2 sampling standard to be considered representative of the whole discharge of ballast water from any single tank or combination of tanks being discharged. 

The sample ballast water should be sent and analyzed by independent 3rd party lavatory to be assigned by the shipowner, operator, using reliable indicate analysis methods. This is the disputable point on the sampling test process and responsibility. Under present concept, the process shall be controlled and monitored by the flag state or class society who was entrusted by the flag state. so, the main party to arrange its preparation is the shipowner or operator not the supplier. 

But I am not bringing up this news in your negative side and telling you here is good news for you, as the BWTS market leader, Panasia has so far took responsibility of arranging the test process by using widen market network globally rather than informing any customer never experience of the general work process that they have to arrange themselves. To help our valuable customer enable reverting on the necessary process, the door on this matter is always open. Luckily, most of cases to be arranged by our side were satisfying with the outcomes of sampling test and scheduling process. Regardless of how urgent your project is, we could take a look on your inquiry on this subject. We’re always with you.