In a study conducted by Mevlüt Yılmaz as part of a Master’s thesis supervised by Ceren Bilgin Güney at Istanbul Technical University in Turkey, clear parameters for an ideal ballast water management system (BWMS) were identified based on seafarers’ experiences
The study by Mr Yılmaz evaluated the experiences of 50 expert seafarers (24 deck personnel and 26 engine personnel) working in a Turkish maritime company on tankers equipped with UV and electrochemical BWMS.
These seafarers work on six different vessels and the brands of the BWMS have been disguised.
Two of the ships had full-stream electrochemical technology-based BWMS from the brand ‘El-Chem 1’, while four had UV-based BWMS from two different brands (‘UV-1’ and ‘UV-2’).
Based on the evaluation of the issues with both El-Chem and UV BWMS, the seafarers’ list of ideal BWMS properties includes the following: no need for preparation before ballasting, minimal training requirements, compact size and simple equipment, convenience for routine checks during operation, no chemical usage, easy maintenance, simple operational use, and a rare occurrence of alarms and malfunctions. These features collectively make for a highly efficient and user-friendly ballast water treatment system, ensuring a smooth and hassle-free experience for maritime professionals.
In the third phase of the study, a statistical method called analytic hierarchy process was used to rank the seafarers’ evaluation of these systems. The eight properties were condensed into six criteria, as some properties covered similar issues.
The order of importance, ranging from highest to lowest, was as follows: rare alarms and malfunctions topped the list, followed by easy maintenance, the absence of chemical handling requirements, operational simplicity with minimal training needs, a compact size with straightforward routine controls, and no preparation necessary before ballasting.
This prioritised ranking underscores the significance of a reliable and user-friendly system for a range of applications and the ranking demonstrates that seafarers consider "rare alarms and malfunctions" to be the most important criterion.
The thesis noted during ballast and deballast operations, which can last for days during cargo loading or unloading, it is crucial for everything to run smoothly. Frequent malfunctions or alarms can disrupt the ship’s operations and distract the chief officer.
In tankers, the chief officer must pay close attention to the level of cargo tanks during critical loading operations. An alarm from the BWMS can distract the chief officer and lead to errors in their work.
Ballast Water Treatment Technology asked Mr Yılmaz to delve into certain facets of his work, in collaboration with input from his supervisor, Ceren Bilgin Güney.
Ballast Water Treatment Technology: What challenges and benefits did you encounter when evaluating the experiences of 50 expert seafarers?
Mevlüt Yılmaz: When the information obtained from the questionnaire survey and bilateral interviews is evaluated, it is seen that some seafarers are prejudiced against BWMS. The reasons for their prejudice are that seafaring is becoming more difficult day by day compared to the past (new regulations, new equipment, more paperwork, etc) and the number of personnel remains the same or even decreases. It is evident that seafaring has become more demanding than in the past. I empathise with seafarers who hold biases against BWMS due to the time constraints and the persistently stressful environment. In addition to negative opinions, I have acquired knowledge about various brands of BWMS through the experiences shared by a diverse group of seafarers using BWMS. I believe manufacturers in the Far East are continually improving BWMS.
Ceren Bilgin Güney: I have to give Mevlüt credit for that. I was not in the field, but Mevlüt was. He is the one facing the challenges.
Ballast Water Treatment Technology: How should the results of your evaluation influence future designs of BWMS?
Mevlüt Yılmaz: In today’s maritime market, many brands have started to produce BWMS. This situation intensifies the competition even further. To establish superiority among different brands of BWMS, they should unquestionably be designed based on the expertise of experienced seafarers. It is important the designed BWMS is easy to maintain by engine officers and easy to use by deck officers. As ships race against time in ports, system failures during cargo operations can directly impact cargo handling. BWMS that alarm too often during cargo operations, especially on tankers and gas vessels, can cause more serious negative incidents, distracting the officer in charge during cargo operations. We hope BWMS manufacturers will take our study into consideration when designing their products.
Ceren Bilgin Güney: I hope the manufacturers take into consideration the seafarers’ perspective. Even if they do not purchase the system, in practice, the seafarers are the real end users of ballast water treatment systems. The reports from ports with challenging conditions in the experience building phase is a sign of problems that we can expect for the future. The problems and difficulties experienced by seafarers after they come into contact with ballast water treatment systems are of key importance for the successful implementation of ballast water management on board in accordance with the rules.
Ballast Water Treatment Technology: What would be your advice for other researchers conducting similar evaluations?
Mevlüt Yılmaz: I recommend that researchers conducting similar studies examine the performance of the same brand of BWMS in different water conditions. A study can also be conducted on El-Chem type BWMS to minimise chemical handling by seafarers.
Ceren Bilgin Güney: If you consider this question from the point of view of the subject, I agree with Mevlüt. What we have done is an introductory study, but the subject can be deepened even more. For instance, the systems used in ships operating in the same region can be evaluated or the situation of the systems using the same technology in different ports can be examined. However, if your question concerns conducting research into seafarers’ experiences, I think seafarers’ experiences being taken into account in different processes paves the way for their participation in the study.
Ballast Water Treatment Technology: Should a similar evaluation be part of the evaluation of any new equipment introduced on vessels by regulators?
Mevlüt Yılmaz: Ship equipment manufacturers should definitely consider end-user seafarers when designing equipment because people with different levels of education work on ships. Many features that should be considered in the selection of a BWMS are, in fact, basic features that any equipment on board should have. Those working on the ship generally desire equipment that provides fewer alarms, fewer malfunctions, ease of use, and maintenance from an operational standpoint. The features obtained as a result of this study should also serve as the basis for producing new equipment for ships. One of the conclusions of this study is to provide ship equipment manufacturers with insights into designing their equipment based on ship operation.
Ceren Bilgin Güney: The criteria determined by evaluating the perspective of seafarers within the scope of the study are of course valid for any equipment on the ship and should be taken into consideration. However, when it comes to ballast water management, the problem goes beyond any equipment or treatment problem. The 13.5 years between the opening of the Convention for signature and its entry into force has shown us this. In ballast water management, there is a search for a solution to a problem where almost every parameter varies from sea to sea, from ship to ship, according to the method used and the technology applied. To successfully implement the solutions found for this problem, the evaluation of the problems encountered on the ship and the participation of the seafarers in the solution of the problem becomes inevitable.
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