Ship ballast water treatment

Abstract

Ships use ballast water to ensure their buoyancy and stability. A significant amount of them is transported in various water basins of the World Ocean. Thus, together with ballast water, many microorganisms, phytoplankton and zooplankton are transported. The constant increase in the number of ships in the World Merchant Navy increases the risk of the spread of these invasive species in the local aquatic environment. This led to the decision of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to legalize the control and treatment of ships' ballast water in order to minimize the risks of the spread of these invasive species.. Their transfer through ballast water to a new water environment is estimated as one of the 4 largest treats for the World Ocean. The International Convention for the Control and Management of Ballast Water and Sediments plays an essential role in the control of ballasting and de-ballasting processes. It regulates the D-1 and D-2 standards, as well as various ballast water treatment systems. Improving the possibility of subsequent change in the application of invasive species, the only way to solve this problem, is to fully prepare for ballast water and to develop alternative methods to ensure the buoyancy and resilience of ships.