An alternative to a permanently installed ballast water treatment system has been awarded USCG type-approval
The US Coast Guard Marine Safety Centre has issued its 35th US Coast Guard Ballast Water Management System Type Approval Certificate to oneTank LLC after a detailed review of the manufacturer’s type-approval application determined the system met the requirements of 46 CFR 162.060.
In June 2020, it was reported that oneTank LLC, sponsored by global engineering company Glostens, had applied for USCG type-approval.
The treatment principle of the oneTank consists of in-tank chemical injection, with in-tank neutralisation prior to discharge. This approval covers models with maximum treatment volumes up to 4,000 m3.
The oneTank system was examined and tested by Independent Lab, DNV GL, in accordance with the requirements contained in 46 CFR 162.060. The USCG type-approval mandates that the system shall be installed and operated in accordance with the oneTank Operation, Maintenance and Safety Manual Rev E, dated 11 August 2020.
The certificate states the ballast water management system (BWMS) has been verified to meet the requirements of 46 CFR Subchapters F and J, and may be installed on a US flag vessel. However, the BWMS is not intended to meet the requirements of 46 CFR 111.105 and may not be installed in hazardous locations on a US flag vessel. The BWMS is not intended for installation in hazardous locations on foreign vessels, too.
In May 2020, Glostens director of research and development Kevin J Reynolds spoke at the Riviera webinar Alternatives to ship-board ballast water treatment systems where he argued that a temporary system like oneTank can mitigate when the installed BWMS fails.
You can watch the webinar here, and register for future webinars on the events page.