Spencer SchillingPresident

Herbert Engineering Corp.

OverviewShipboard Ballast OperationsTypical Ballast System ComponentsAIS and Ballast WaterShipboard Ballast Water Management

SolutionsExchangeTreatment

Treatment Technologies : Engineering Challenges

Shipboard Ballast OperationsWhy is ballast used?

Maintain seaworthy condition when lightly loaded

Draft, trim, stability, bending moment, shear force, slamming, propeller immersion, motions

Shipboard Ballast OperationsHow is it handled?

Loading condition is assessed and ballast allocated to remain within safe operational limits

Ballast movements coordinated with cargo operations

Impact on CrewProvides for vessel safetyControls vessel motion for better comfortRequires daily management of ballast and

maintenance of systems and tanks

Typical Ballast System ComponentsSimple liquid storage/handling systemTanks, piping, valves, pumpsVents, overflows, sounding tubes, level

indicatorsRemotely operatedSea chests and overboard discharges

Ballast System – Design Considerations

Total ballast volume – 6,000 to >100,000 m3Flow rates – 200 to 5000 m3/hrHead requirements – up to 30mIn service flexibility (# tks, pipe, valves, …)

Ballast Exchange Options Partial Ballast Conditions

Control systems

What are AIS?Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) are

organisms transported by human activities to a region where they did not occur historically and have established reproducing populations in the wild.

(Ref. Dobroski, ‘Aquatic Invasive Species and Ballast Water Management’)

How do we manage AIS?Prevention – Best line of defense, vector

managementEradication – Costly and often

impossible, over $6 million to eradicate Caulerpa (algae) fromtwo small southern CA embayments

Species management once established – restrict local movement, control populations in sensitive habitats if possible

(Ref. Dobroski, ‘Aquatic Invasive Species and Ballast Water Management’)

How do they get here?Many mechanisms (vectors) capable of

transporting AIS around the worldAquaculture, live seafood shipments, bait, pet

store trade, intentional releaseCommercial ships responsible for up to 80%

of introductions in coastal habitatsIncludes ballast water and vessel fouling

(Ref. Dobroski, ‘Aquatic Invasive Species and Ballast Water Management’)

Ballast Water and AISSpecies are introduced upon ballast water

discharge in recipient regions

(Ref. Dobroski, ‘Aquatic Invasive Species and Ballast Water Management’)

Ballast Water Management Options in CaliforniaRetain all ballast on board the vessel Ballast water exchangeDischarge to an approved shoreside treatment

facility (currently no such facilities in CA)Use of alternative, environmentally sound

CSLC or USCG approved method of treatment

(Ref. Dobroski, ‘Aquatic Invasive Species and Ballast Water Management’)

Ballast Water Treatment StandardsOrganism Size Class California1,2 IMO Regulation D-21 Washington

Organisms greater than 50 µm in minimum dimension

No detectable living organisms

< 10 viable organisms per cubic meter

Technology to inactivate or remove:

95% zooplankton99% bacteria and

phytoplankton

Organisms 10 – 50 µm in minimum dimension

< 0.01 living organisms per ml

< 10 viable organisms per ml

Organisms less than 10 µm in minimum dimension

Escherichia coliIntestinal enterococciToxicogenic Vibrio cholerae (01

& 0139)

< 103 bacteria/100 ml< 104 viruses/100 ml

< 126 cfu3/100 ml< 33 cfu/100 ml< 1cfu/100 ml or < 1cfu/gram wet weight

zoological samples

< 250 cfu/100 ml< 100 cfu/100 ml< 1 cfu/100 ml or < 1 cfu/gram wet weight

zooplankton samples

[1] See Implementation Schedule (below) for dates by which vessels must meet California Interim Performance Standards and IMO Ballast Water Performance Standard[2] Final discharge standard for California, beginning January 1, 2020, is zero detectable living organisms for all organism size classes [3] Colony-forming-unitImplementation Schedule for Performance Standards

(Ref. Dobroski, ‘Aquatic Invasive Species and Ballast Water Management’)

Ballast Water Capacity of Vessel Standards apply to new vessels in this size class constructed on or after

Standards apply to all other vessels in this size class beginning in

< 1500 metric tons 2009 2016

< 1500 – 5000 metric tons 2009 2014

> 5000 metric tons 2012 2016

Treatment Technology ChallengeAchieve desired kill rateWork at high flow rates and with large volumesWork with water of varying salinity, temperature,

nutrients, clarityDo not introduce other personnel/environmental

hazardsProvide mechanism/process for testing/monitoringDo not disrupt ship operations/scheduleFit in limited space and survive ship conditions

(vibration, pitch/roll motions,...)Use available powerDo not add to ship maintenanceBe economical to buy, install, use and maintain

Treatment Technology SolutionsChemical Biocides (“Active Substances”)

Chlorine (Generated on Board)Ozone (Generated on Board)Proprietary Chemicals (some delivered pre-mixed)

Mechanical Separation - Filters Physical Change to Ballast Water Environment

Irradiate (UV light)DeoxygenateHeat

Chlorine NaCl + H2O + 2e NaOCl + H2Generate Chlorine / Sodium Hypochlorate

(bleach) with electrolytic cells on board Add solution when taking on ballast, maintain

levels during voyageLethal in hours>80% chance can meet IMO 2004

criteriaSystems designed but limited

testing to dateHigh dosage levels can promote

steel corrosionConcern about chemical residuals

OzoneOzone generator on board using

high voltage AC current Applied at uptake or dischargeLethal in 5-15 hoursShort half life limits corrosion

and makes safe at discharge<60% chance can meet IMO

2004 criteriaSystems designed but limited

testing to date

Proprietary ChemicalsPre-Mixed proprietary chemicals

introduced at metered dosage rate when taking on ballast

Chemicals degrade over time, designed to be safe at discharge

Lethal in 24 hrs>80% chance can meet IMO

2004 criteriaFull size testing ongoingHigh dosage levels can promote

steel corrosionConcern about chemical

residuals

ExamplePeracetic Acid

C2H4O3acetic acid,

hydrogen peroxide with sulfuric acid

catalyst.Produced on shore, delivered to ship in

chemical tanks

Mechanical Separation Filters and CyclonesFilters for larger organismsDone at uptake and/or discharge‘Lethal’ at time of treatment<80% chance can meet IMO 2004 criteriaFull scale testing on going

Filtration with Backflush 50 microns is the practical lower limitAutomatic backflush is required to allow for

unattended operationBackflush process reduces the net flow rate

and increases the system pressure drops

External backflushing pump is required

Probably not practical for bulkers and tankers with high flow rates and volumes

Filtration with Backflush Can remove most of the larger life forms

A 50 micron screen will remove most or all of the zooplankton and some of the phytoplankton and dinoflagellates.

Filters of a practical size are not effective against bacteria and viruses

Useful in reducing turbidity (suspended solids)

Cyclonic Separation

figure

Cyclonic SeparationCan remove solids heavier than the sea water

and larger than about 50 micronsAbout 5% to 10% of the total flow rate is

removed in the sludge dischargePressure drop is about 0.8 bar plus

backpressure valve at 1.2 to 1.5 bar

Cyclonic SeparationEffectively remove the large vertebrates and

invertebratesNot effective in reducing zooplankton

density, but it does reduce live densities

Not that effective in reducing bacteria, viruses, or phytoplankton

Physical Change to EnvironmentUltraviolet (UV) LightInactivates living organisms by causing DNA

mutationsProven effective against zooplankton,

phytoplankton, bacteria and viruses.Need pretreatment to reduce size of

organisms and exposure timeCan be used on intake and discharge

Ultraviolet (UV) LightCan be automatically controlled and

monitoredLong history in the marine industry and

demonstrated low maintenance requirements

Basic technology is readily available on the market

Turbid materials in the ballast flow attenuate and scatter the UV radiation

Physical Change to Environment DeoxygenateInert gas generated on boardWhen mixed with water, lowers Oxygen and

pH Lethal in 4 to 6 days>80% chance can meet IMO 2004 criteriaFull scale testing on going, some systems

approved by IMOReduces corrosion, but can require closed

tank vent system to maintain low oxygen atmosphere.

Physical Change to Environment Heat TreatmentHeat water to threshold temperature (42

degC)Lethal in hours to daysRequires large amount of energy and can be

difficult to generate heat in port when ME not running

<60% chance can meet IMO 2004 CriteriaFull scale testing on goingHeat promotes corrosion

2- Stage TreatmentCyclonic Separator + UV

3 - Stage TreatmentFilter + UV + Chemical50 micron filtration

remove large particlesremove sediments

UV light inactivate living organisms reduced efficacy with cloudy water

Catalystsactivated by UV energy producing oxidizing

chemicalsincreases efficacy of UV in cloudy water

Life Cycle CostsAcquisition

250 m3/hr 5000 m3/hr$100k to $400k $400k to $1800k

Installation $50k to $125k $200k to $800k

Operating$0.02/m3 to $0.45/m37000 m3 $140 $3,150

70,000 m3 $1,400 $31,500Maintenance $ ?

Safety IssuesHandling and storage of chemicals, radiation

and other equipment meant to kill living organisms

New risks to personnel and the environment

IMO G9 Procedures considering eco-toxicology, human health and ship and crew safety (MEPC.126(53))

Local, State, National water quality regulations

Regulatory Compliance and TestingStricter standardsTesting is time

consuming Lab results may not

scale well to full sizeFunctional testing and

equipment certification “Type Approval”, or

In service testing (“end of pipe”) for continuous monitoring

Organism Size Class California1,2

Organisms greater than 50 µm in minimum dimension

No detectable living organisms

Organisms 10 – 50 µm in minimum dimension

< 0.01 living organisms per ml

Organisms less than 10 µm in minimum dimension

Escherichia coliIntestinal enterococciToxicogenic Vibrio cholerae

(01 & 0139)

< 103 bacteria/100 ml< 104 viruses/100 ml

< 126 cfu3/100 ml< 33 cfu/100 ml< 1cfu/100 ml or < 1cfu/gram wet

weight zoological samples

Need for Engineered SolutionsDevelop treatment technologies (Entrepreneur

stage)Design testing methods and process for type

approval or continuous monitoring Automatic ballast water analyzers (bug counters)

Ship design adjustments and system integrationRegulatory development/evaluation

Spencer SchillingPresident

Herbert Engineering Corp.