The United State Coast Guard (USCG) is amending its regulations on ballast water management by establishing a standard for the allowable concentration of living organisms in ships’ ballast water discharged in waters of the United States.This rule is entitled as “Standards for Living Organisms in Ship’s Ballast Water Discharged in U.S. waters”, Vol. 77,Federal Register Reg. 17254, on 23 March 2012 (BWDS).

BWDS will become effective on 21 June 2012 after 90 days of issuance this rule.

The Coast Guard is also amending its regulations for engineering equipment by establishing an approval process for ballast water management systems. These new regulations will aid in controlling the introduction and spread of nonindigenous species from ships’ ballast water in waters of the United States.

BWDS is applied to all merchant vessels equipped with ballast tanks that,after operating on the waters beyond the Exchusive Econimic Zone during any part of its voyage,enter U.S. waters.

For more information click here . Also refer to Class NKK TEC 0903