Ballast
Bill Passes House Easily But Questions Linger (Apr
29, 2008) Michigan Live.
On a vote of 395-7 last week, the U.S. House of
Representatives approved a Coast Guard funding
bill that contained language requiring some freighters
to disinfect ballast water tanks beginning next
year. By 2015, all ships operating in the Great Lakes must have treatment systems on-board that kill all living organisms in ballast tanks, including pathogens. However, the bill only requires that some freighters obey the standards starting next year. It will take until 2015 for all ships to have on-board treatment systems.
