House Passes Ballast Water Legislation
On Apr 24, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2008 (H.R. 2830) by a vote of 395 to 7. Title V of the bill requires that in 2009 shippers must begin installing ballast water treatment systems that meet an interim standard in vessels that enter U.S. waters. All ships will be required to have ballast technology on board by 2014. Water quality standards for the treated ballast water will be ten times more stringent than international standards that are set to take effect in 2015. The bill also stipulates that ships reporting no ballast on board will be required to conduct saltwater flushing.
