Crew training and system limitations are gaining importance as shipowners anticipate Ballast Water Management Convention compliance checks.

Alfa Laval has replaced over 250 BWT systems from 30 different manufacturers over the last two years. It’s just one example of how the market is changing as compliance checking is expected to ramp up this year.

Independent consultant Giles Candy of Giles Environmental sees retrofits occurring after some systems, idle for years, are found to be inoperable. “Though BWT systems have been installed on vessels for well over a decade, the requirement to use them is new. Bringing a long installed BWT systems back to life is a challenge for owners, crews and manufacturers.