Are the Ballast Water Stars Finally Aligning?
Ballast water was first recognized by the scientific community as a vector for transfer of potentially invasive marine species more than 30 years ago. It took a number of years, and acceptance that zebra mussels had reached the Great Lakes in the ballast water of ships arriving from the Black Sea, before the maritime industry generally acknowledged that they were part of the problem. Initially, high seas ballast water exchange was the only available means for removing potentially invasive species from the tanks. That methodology presented risks to the stability of the ship (and the safety of the crew), as illustrated by the near-loss of the car carrier Cougar Ace in 2006 in waters of the North Pacific Ocean just south of the Aleutian Chain. The search for alternative means of reducing the risk of introduction of invasive marine species commenced immediately, but problems quickly arose.
Environmental advocates could not agree amongst themselves as to how low the risk should be and what methodologies should be acceptable. Some environmentalists contended that the ballast water should be sterilized before discharge, making it much more pure than common tap water. Some in the marine industry tried to deny that a problem existed or that, if it did, existing vessels should not have to be altered. Some nations (and in the United States, some states, and one city) adopted independent standards, resulting in a patchwork of requirements that continue to vex the marine industry.
GloBallast: RT @70PercentBlue: Are the Ballast Water Stars Finally Aligning? http://t.co/cMQXXl93
