US Coast Guard approves Korean ballast water management system

CLASSIFICATION society Korean Register has been approved by the US Coast Guard (USCG) to deliver high quality testing and evaluation for ballast water management (BWM) systems to the world's maritime community, as an "independent laboratory" (IL).

Notwithstanding the International Maritime Organisation's Ballast Water Convention, vessels wanting to operate in US waters must be fitted with BWM systems that are USCG type approved in accordance with their implementation schedule.

This particular approval requires a high level of ability within the IL and involves the passing of at least five valid and successful test repetitions at differing levels of salinity during land-based testing, as well as a higher standard of sampling and analysis, reported London's Tanker Operator.

Said KR chairman and chief executive BS Park: "We are committed to the development of all relevant technologies and will continue to contribute to the implementation of US Coast Guard regulations."