The US Coast Guard has issued an updated type approval for Alfa Laval’s PureBallast 3 ballast water treatment technology.
As explained by the Swedish engineering group, the new certificate, awarded on April 4, makes it possible for vessels to deballast in the United States waters with a holding time of just 2.5 hours.
This holding time, which is due solely to a technical testing procedure, is only applicable if the vessel crosses over into another Captain of the Port Zone within this very short time.
“We are committed to keeping operations simple, even under the more complicated USCG legislation,” Anders Lindmark, Head of Alfa Laval PureBallast, said.
“The new, and dramatically reduced, holding time for PureBallast 3 removes a key frustration when operating in United States waters.”
Holding time is a designated interval between the completion of ballast water uptake and the start of ballast water discharge. The reason UV treatment systems have had holding times in United States waters is the difference in testing methods used by IMO and the USCG to verify biological disinfection performance.
However, the recent signing into law of the Vessel Incidental Discharge Act (VIDA) paves the way for the USCG to re-evaluate the IMO-endorsed method. If the USCG decides to accept the same testing principle used by IMO, suppliers of UV treatment systems will likely be able to reapply for USCG type approval based on the IMO testing methodology, Alfa Laval explained.
“Alfa Laval is closely following the developments related to VIDA, but we have chosen not to wait for a change in the USCG legislation,” Lindmark said.
“PureBallast 3 has the fewest limitations of any ballast water treatment technology, and the minimized holding time in United States waters makes those limitations even fewer.”