Japan-based JFE Engineering Corporation has obtained the US Coast Guard (USCG) type approval for its ballast water management system (BWMS).
As informed, the 13th US Coast Guard Ballast Water Management System Type Approval Certificate was issued to JFE Engineering Corporation 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 BallastAce BWMS consists of filtration with chemical injection during uptake and neutralization during discharge. This approval covers models with maximum treatment rated capacities between 500 m3/h and 3,500 m3/h.
After completing land-based and shipboard tests for the USCG type approval, the company submitted an application to the USCG in March this year.
The approval comes a week after Chinese firm Headway Technology received the USCG type approval for its OceanGuard system.
To protect the marine environment from invasive species carried in ships’ ballast water, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) adopted the Ballast Water Management Convention which entered into force in September 2017. On the other hand, the United States constituted an original stringent ballast water management regulations. Ships calling the United States ports are required to install BWMS with USCG type approval.