California’s Golden Bear Research Center has joined a small and prestigious group of testing labs dedicated to rigorous and disciplined methodology in the field of science and the analysis of ballast water
Golden Bear Research Center is located at the California State University Maritime Academy (Cal Maritime) and has testing facilities in the tidal waters around Vallejo and on board training ship Golden Bear. The facility has access to saltwater, brackish water and a nearby source of fresh water.
In addition to shoreside labs, there is the facility to conduct tests on 152-m long ship, Golden Bear. Golden Bear has travelled the world in the capacity of a training ship and Golden Bear Research Center has been able to test in real-life conditions. In 2020, testing has been limited to US waters using a mobile lab, but it has proven highly flexible.
In June 2021, Golden Bear Research Center received accreditation to ISO 17025:2017 General Requirements for the Competence of Testing and Calibration Laboratories.
In addition to ballast water treatment testing, Golden Bear Research Center has undertaken work in exhaust emissions, solid waste stream, oil pollution, hull fouling and other potential risks to the marine environment.
This is conducted in a manner that provides interest and engagement of the students attending the Cal Maritime training faculty, providing impetus for discussion and learning. The faculty combines the expertise of the Cal Maritime’s operations team, the biological oceanography research group at the California State University’s Moss Landing Marine Laboratories and Pacific EcoRisk Environmental Consulting.
Golden Bear is part of Global TestNet, an organisation comprising nearly all the labs and facilities that undertake the testing of ballast water.
Do not miss the next Ballast Water Webinar Week beginning 22 June Register your interest here
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