USCG Issues Ballast Water Treatment Standard

USCG Issues Ballast Water Treatment Standard

The US Coast Guard (USCG) announced its final rule on ballast water management establishing a standard for the allowable concentration of living organisms in ballast water discharged from ships in waters of the US as well as the approval process for ballast water management systems. The ballast water discharge standard is reportedly consistent with that in the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments, adopted by the IMO in 2004 (which has not yet entered into force). The final rule is scheduled for publication on 23 March in the US Federal Register and will become effective 90 days thereafter.

Additional information and a public inspection copy of the final rule are available on the USCG website.