The Green Shipping panel discussion at Oceanology International 2016 explored the environmental impacts of global shipping. Invasive species have been identified as one of the four greatest threats to the world’s oceans. Invasive alien species are now generally recognised as one of the greatest threats to biodiversity globally, they present serious economic, environmental and health impacts and, as a result, place major constraints on development.
Ships often take up ballast water in ports and coastal regions, where the ecosystems have a rich diversity of life. These biologically diverse waters, and their underlying sediments, including many forms of viruses, bacteria, plankton, plants and animals, are sucked into vessels’ ballast tanks. Ballast water is then is released during various stages of the ship’s journey, including at sea, along coastlines, and in various ports. As a result, a diverse mix of organisms is transported and released around the world. Over 3,000 marine species travel around the world in ships' ballast water on a daily basis. Invasive species are carried across the seas not only inside ships but also attached to the outside. This is known as hull fouling, vessel fouling, or biofouling. Organisms like barnacles, mussels, sponges, algae and sea squirts attach themselves to the hulls of ships, or within protected nooks and crannies such as sea chests. These organisms then ‘hitch a ride’ from one port or bioregion to the next.
This panel session covered the two major vectors of invasive species into the marine environment: in ships ballast water or by hull fouling- with talks covering the science, technologies and legislation designed to minimize and prevent invasions and a discussion on how impending international legislation may present business opportunities for the science, engineering and technology sector.
Chaired by Bev MacKenzie, Technical and Policy Director, Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST) & Richard Burt, Chairman, AMSI and Sales and Marketing Director, Chelsea Technologies Group
PROGRAMME
Ballast Water & Biofouling an Introduction
Welcome and Opening Remarks, Richard Burt, Chairman, AMSI and Sales and Marketing Director, Chelsea Technologies Group
Ballast Water Management from Regulation to Monitoring, Chris Mooij, Director and Head of the Modelling, GIS and Metocean (MGM) Team, Intertek
Presentation: Ballast Water Management from Regulation to Monitoring
Ballast Water Treatment Systems, Dr Stelios Kyriacou, Technical Director - Ballast Water Management Systems, Wärtsilä
Presentation: Ballast Water Treatment Systems
Universal Challenges in Ballast Water Management and Sensor Technology Developments, Stephanie Lavelle, Maritime Sales Manager, Chelsea Technologies
Presentation: Universal challenges in ballast water management and sensor technology developments
Challenges in Combatting Biofouling, Tom Vance, Research and Development Manager, Plymouth Marine Laboratory
Presentation: Challenges in combatting biofouling
Panel Discussion: Technology Applications & Business Opportunities within Green Shipping
Ramifications of Ballast Water Convention Ratification & Discussion Introduction, Bev MacKenzie, Technical and Policy Director, IMarEST
This conference programme was CPD approved by IMarEST. Attendees were eligible for a CPD certificate, post event.
