USCG Accepts Nine Ballast Water Treatment Alternate Management Systems

USCG Accepts Nine Ballast Water Treatment Alternate Management Systems

The US Coast Guard announced acceptance of nine ballast water treatment systems as Alternate Management Systems (AMS) under the final rule for Standards for Living Organisms in Ships' Ballast Water Discharged in US waters. AMS acceptance is a temporary designation given to a ballast water treatment system approved by a foreign administration which may be used to manage ballast water discharges in lieu of ballast water exchange in US waters, while the treatment system undergoes approval testing to USCG standards. An AMS may be used to meet the USCG's ballast water treatment requirements for up to five years after the ship's ballast water discharge standard compliance date specified in the final rule.