Emergency Delivery System Development for Disinfecting Ballast Water

Ballast water - water carried in tanks on ships to help provide stability and aid steering - is likely the single greatest source for introduction of non-native and invasive aquatic species. Ballast water is collected in one body of water and discharged into another body of water, usually large distances apart. At least one new invasive species is found in the Great Lakes every year, with Lake Superior being particularly at risk. Scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey will test methods of decontaminating ballast water on board a working ship with an emphasis on techniques that can be used in emergencies such as a grounded ship.

Overall Project Outcome and Results
This project was part of Phase III of an overall effort to produce an Emergency Response Guide to Handling Ballast Water to Control Non-Indigenous Species. Phase I ($25,000) was funded by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and resulted in a study plan entitled "Mixing Biocides into Ships' Ballast Water: Efficiency of Novel Methods." Phase II ($185,000) was funded by the Great Lakes Fisheries Trust and studied in-line injection, bulk dye dosing, perforated hose dosing, and passive mixing methods, such as ship's motion.

Similar to Phase II, this effort (Phase III) prepared ballast tank mixing and sampling equipment, field work on a working ship to trial promising ballast mixing methods, and analysis/report. The active methods being studied in Phase III are venturi eductors and air lifts. The outcome will be the incorporation of these methods (if determined to be effective and practical) into a best practices guide for treating the ballast water of ships either:

• Arriving in port with high risk ballast water,
• Leaving a port that contains ballast known to be high risk for the destination port, or
• Grounded and laden with high risk, untreated ballast water.

Project Results Use and Dissemination
Preliminary information from Result 1 and Result 2 activities were shared at the May 18, 2010 Great Lakes Ballast Water Collaborative meeting in Montreal, QC and at the June 1, 2010 Lake Superior Binational Program - Invasive Species Workshop in Duluth, MN.

The final project results consisting of two reports entitled "Emergency Response Guidance for Handling Ballast Water to Control Aquatic Invasive Species" and "Mixing Biocides into Ship's Ballast Water-Great Lakes Bulk Carrier Field Trials" are posted on the National Park Service web site at http://www.nps.gov/isro/naturescience/handling-ballast-water-to-control-non-indigenous-species.htm.

Project Publication:
Emergency Response Guidance for Handling Ballast Water to Control Aquatic Invasive Species (PDF - 2.2 MB)
Mixing Biocides into Ship's Ballast Water: Great Lakes Bulk Carrier Field Trials (PDF - 3.5 MB)