Review of Ballast Water Management

Ballast water provides to ship appropriate maneuverability, seaworthiness, cargo worthiness and it is essential to the safe and efficient operation of ship. The limits of organism concentration in ballast water allowed to be discharged into portʼs aquatorium were set by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). Management of ballast water and sediment has been introduced as obligatory since 2017. by the International Convention for the Control and Management of Shipʼs Ballast Water and Sediments. Ballast water treatment methods (Standard D2), significantly reduce the risk of spreading of invasive species through ballast in compare by water exchange methods (Standard D1). The treatment of ballast water with active substances may lead to the release of those substances into the environment and the goal of this paper is an introduction to the issue of possible significant and harmful changes in the marine environment due to the ballast water treatment with active substances. The Shore Based Treatment System is suggested by authors as one of acceptable solutions for certain category of ships. Also mentioned system provides better control of ballast water treatment and it generally may help to improve Ballast Water Management.