Source: RINA
RINA, due to its participation in International Rule Developments and thanks to input received from Greek Shipowners through its HellenicTechnical Committee and through cooperation with Martecma has today made a presentation on the impact that the new Ballast Water Tanks Convention will have on Ship Design and Operation. The presentation was introduced by Mr Nicky Papaddakis, Chairman of INTERCARGO and of the RINA Hellenic Advisory Committee, and by Mr A.Tsirigakis, CEO of Starbulk and Chairman of the RINA Hellenic Technical Committee. They both said that such a seminar was evidence of the importance that RINA gives to Greek initiatives with due consideration to practical issues. In fact Mr B.Pugliese, Head of the Hull Section of the RINA Technical Department (at RINA Head Office in Genova) explained the challenges created by the new Ballast Water Tanks Convention and by Regional Regulations on permitted biological organisms in discharged ballast water. For instance in the USA, the requirements in California are so stringent that ballast water needs to be discharged without any biological organisms, starting from 1st January 2020. Mr. Pugliese also presented the impact that new technologies presently available on the market may have on ballast pumps and piping systems, electrical power generation, arrangement of the engine room and coating ballast tanks. Mr Pugliese explained that RINA can cooperate with shipowners to assess the impact of the selected system on their vessels, both from technical and operative points of view.
During a lively discussion, Mr Koutris from Martecma expressed the concern that there are too many technologies in the market that can provide very different results when working on board. He suggested that industry in cooperation with class societies should define the best systems for each kind of ship. Mr Baltatzis, General Manager of Technomar Shipping and Co-Chairman of the RINA Hellenic Technical Committee, concluded that more time was needed to assess the impact on Safety of Ballast Water Tank Systems, for instance on entry into enclosed spaces, when the systems make use of inert gas technologies that can create a dangerous atmosphere inside the ballast tanks after water treatment.These matters will be discussed by RINA with Martecma and during the next RINA Hellenic Advisory Meeting, scheduled for the beginning of July in Athens.