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Coldharbour warns shipowners to do 'homework' before selecting BWTS
COLDHARBOUR CEO Andrew Marshal has warned that many ballast water treatment systems (BWTS) fitted on large vessels are not fit for purpose. Quoting an ABS report, Mr Marshall said that there was much misinformation in the BWTS market.
Owners face the perfect storm of delays, disruptions, additional costs, significant losses, large fines and loss of reputation and will have no recourse to BWTS suppliers or shipyards, Mr Marshall warned, reported London's Tanker Operator.
In addition, P&I clubs have said that they will not cover any losses incurred, as a result of improper BWTS selection by their owner members.
Mr Marshall warned owners to take care when selecting a suitable, fit for purpose BWTS, taking into account the typical operating parameters of their vessels. "Owners must do their homework,?he said.
"Selection based simply on price, type approval certification and hope will almost certainly guarantee failure," he said.
He said that the bottom line was that a bad ballasting operation, inexperienced crew and faulty equipment could lead to a failed Port State Control inspection resulting in fines of up to US$100,000.
As for Coldharbour, he said that the company's BWTS was only suitable for 15 per cent of the tonnage operating today, as it was aimed at the larger tonnage of around Aframax size and above. The company's BWTS is designed as an "in tank" system using inert gas, which is a system familiar to tanker crews.
In another move, the US Coast Guard Marine Safety Center (MSC) has received its seventh application for Ballast Water Management System (BWMS) type approval. This came from the Purimar BWMS manufactured by Samsung Heavy Industries.
Owners face the perfect storm of delays, disruptions, additional costs, significant losses, large fines and loss of reputation and will have no recourse to BWTS suppliers or shipyards, Mr Marshall warned, reported London's Tanker Operator.
In addition, P&I clubs have said that they will not cover any losses incurred, as a result of improper BWTS selection by their owner members.
Mr Marshall warned owners to take care when selecting a suitable, fit for purpose BWTS, taking into account the typical operating parameters of their vessels. "Owners must do their homework,?he said.
"Selection based simply on price, type approval certification and hope will almost certainly guarantee failure," he said.
He said that the bottom line was that a bad ballasting operation, inexperienced crew and faulty equipment could lead to a failed Port State Control inspection resulting in fines of up to US$100,000.
As for Coldharbour, he said that the company's BWTS was only suitable for 15 per cent of the tonnage operating today, as it was aimed at the larger tonnage of around Aframax size and above. The company's BWTS is designed as an "in tank" system using inert gas, which is a system familiar to tanker crews.
In another move, the US Coast Guard Marine Safety Center (MSC) has received its seventh application for Ballast Water Management System (BWMS) type approval. This came from the Purimar BWMS manufactured by Samsung Heavy Industries.
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