BWTS
A ballast water treatment system (BWTS) is a shipboard installation designed to treat ballast water before it is discharged, in order to reduce the transfer of aquatic organisms, pathogens, and other unwanted materials between ecosystems. Ballast water is used to improve stability and trim, and it can harbor invasive species that threaten marine environments when released in foreign ports.
Most BWTS operate by a combination of physical and chemical processes. Common approaches include filtration to
Regulatory framework and compliance requirements are central to BWTS adoption. The IMO Ballast Water Management Convention,
Operational considerations include system selection (open-loop, closed-loop, or hybrid), installation space and power requirements, maintenance and