Increasing number of vessel owners have expressed their willingness to use ‘plug and play’ for ballast Water Management Systems (BWMS) due to no frills technology.
Owners disappointed:
However, the owners who expressed willingness to use “plug and play” type systems are disappointed that the selection and installation of a BWMS requires additional work specific to the ship and its operating profile.
Vessel analysis required:
For BWMS all the vessel specific analysis has to be carried out which ranges from selection, installation, operation, and maintenance of a BWMS and its operating profile.
Due to this reason, BWMS installations are customized and every ballast water management plan (BWMP) is a customized plan. Furthermore, a BWMS will require analyses specific to the vessel and its operating profile.
Consultation necessary:
USCG has also recommended the specialists and contractors in helping the ship owners and operators to cope with this technology and outsourcing the job will lead to difficulties.
Since BWMS involves cargo operations and management involves the ability to load or discharge cargo in real time, owners shouldn’t expect “plug and play” but instead should require the same level of diligence, analysis, and integration they would give to any other aspect of a cargo management system.
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Source: Coast Guard Maritime Commons
