ACG-BWT Project

Sector: Biofouling and antifouling

Person in charge: Marco Faimali

ISMAR Genoa Staff: Francesca Garaventa, Veronica Piazza, Christian Corrà

Main Partners: Azienda Chimica Genovese Srl

Ballast waters are employed by ships to balance on board cargo distribution, and to reach a sinking level optimal for the navigation. Along with this water, loaded on board during good unloading on the quay, many harbour waters organisms are transferred on board, too. When a ship arrives to the subsequent destination, it performs hold loading again, discharging ballast waters. The risks of this practice are connected with the release of the organisms present in the ballast water in an ecosystem different from the native one, with possible highly harmful repercussions both at ecological and at economical level. To prevent this, IMO (International Maritime Organization) will make soon mandatory, for ships, the treatment of ballast water before discharge, to eliminate the organisms transported with them.

Aim of the present activity is the realization of IMO - Basic Approval, to obtain the qualification of a Ballast Water Treatment (BWT) system, realized by Azienda Chimica Genovese. This kind of certification is intentended to guarantee safety, eco-compatibility (absence of toxic effect on the environment caused by discharge of treated waters) and effectiveness of BWT systems.