Norway's Optimarin says its ballast water treatment system is the first to receive type approval from the US Coast Guard (USCG) that allows the gear to be used in US waters.
The company said it passed the USCG-approved lab testing back in November 2015, the primary step prior to applying for the type approval.
The USCG requires ballast water treatment systems to kill invasive marine species. That standard is considered more stringent than limiting the reproductive capability of invasive species, which is supported by the International Maritime Organisation and most ballast gear manufacturers.
Over 50 ballast water gear makers have said they intend to file for USCG approval. But the associated cost of extra testing and the more stringent threshold has been a gating factor in applying for the approval.
Other than Optimarin, the only two other manufacturers that have submitted applications to the USCG are Alfa Laval and OceanSaver.
The USCG says 17 different ballast treatment systems are currently being tested for type approval.
The Optimarin system uses a combination of filtration and ultra-violet light to kill invasive marine species. Optimarin says it has over 300 systems installed worldwide, with customers including Atlantis Tankers, Vard, Saga Shipbuilding, Solvang and Carisbrooke.
“This is a huge day for our company, and our customers,” said Optimarin chief executive Tore Andersen. “USCG has the world’s most stringent testing standards, meaning that once a system has approval it is assured of total global compliance, now and into the future."
