The Great Lakes Ballast Water Working Group (BWWG) released Friday its 2011 Summary of Great Lakes Seaway Ballast Water Management report.

The BWWG is comprised of representatives of the U. S. Coast Guard, Transport Canada - Marine Safety, the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation, and the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation.

Preventing the introduction of aquatic invasive species into the Great Lakes through stricter ballast water standards and a comprehensive enforcement policy is a top priority for all the members of this working group.

In 2011, 100% of ships bound for the Great Lakes via the St. Lawrence Seaway from outside the Exclusive Economic Zone received a ballast tank exam.  A total of 7,203 ballast tanks during 396 vessel transits were assessed. Vessels that did not exchange their ballast water or flush their ballast tanks were required to either retain the ballast water and residuals on board, treat the ballast water in an environmentally sound and approved manner, or return to sea to conduct a ballast water exchange.

You can view the report, by clicking here.

Source: USCG