The US Coast Guard has announced it has given type-approval to three BWMS in March. All the systems are from South Korean providers. Only 12 BWMS remain under review
The Coast Guard Marine Safety Centre has issued its 27th US Coast Guard ballast water management system (BWMS) type-approval certificate to Panasia Co Ltd, after a detailed review of the manufacturer’s type-approval application determined the system met the requirements of 46 CFR 162.060.
The treatment principle of the GloEn Patrol 2.0 BWMS consists of filtration with UV treatment during uptake and discharge. This approval covers models with maximum treatment rated capacities between 50 m3 per hour and 6,000 m3 per hour.
The previous model of the GloEn-Patrol had been approved on certificate 162.060/14/0. The new certificate specified that it applies to the GloEn Patrol BWMS, and this new certificate (162.060/27/0) applies to only the GloEn Patrol 2.0.
Achieving US Coast type-approval must be a relief to Panasia, which is facing possible suspension of its type-approval in South Korea. The USCG type-approval allows the fitment of GloEn Patrol 2.0 in hazardous spaces on US-flag vessels and is listed with the flowing operational limitations:
The USCG has also issued two type-approval certificates to NK, the South Korean manufacturer of the BlueBallast brands. The certificates cover NK-03 BlueBallast II and NK-03 BlueBallast II Plus. The independent laboratory in both cases was LR. NK-03 BlueBallast II was not approved for use on US-flag vessels and with the following operational limitations:
The NK-03 BlueBallast II Plus version was also not approved for use on US-flag vessels but in both cases this does not interfere with foreign-flag approvals. The operational limitations are:
The approval of the three South Korean BWMS takes the number of USCG type-approvals to 29. There are only 12 BWMS awaiting USCG type-approval
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