ACT/MERC Workshop: Ballast Water Compliance Monitoring Using Fluorometry
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3.
Commercially available fluorometers can provide evidence of exceedance with ballast water
discharge standards for photosynthetic organisms in the 10-50 μm size class and in “whole (or
bulk) water” (i.e., without the need for sample filtration or size fractionation), depending on
established thresholds. Instruments can be:
a)
Placed in a side-streams of ballast water piping for continuous monitoring during
discharge, independent of ballast water treatment systems,
b)
Hand-held units for analysis of discrete water samples collected during discharge of
ballast water, and/or
c)
Integrated directly into ballast water treatment systems, for treatment self-diagnostics or
process control.
4.
Commercially available fluorometers can supply more information than the basic measures for
exceedance proposed above, information which may be of value in ballast water treatment
system certification testing and/or expanded compliance testing.
5.
Commercially available fluorometers can be integrated into ballast water treatment systems
and automated for system self-diagnostics. The information can be made available to vessel
crew and inspectors as part of standard ballast water logbooks. Requirements and specification
for this application of fluorometers should be identified through discussions between sensor
developers/vendors and treatment system developers/vendors.
6.
Commercially available fluorometers can be packaged as units to be carried onboard by vessel
inspectors. Requirements and specifications for this application will be identified through a
follow-up discussion between ACT/MERC and USCG inspectors.
7.
A final verification/validation of each specific fluorometer make/model is required prior to its
full operational use in compliance monitoring. ACT Technology Evaluations (particularly those
focused on chlorophyll and hydrocarbon fluorometers) should be used as a model for the sensor
verification/validation of ballast water fluorometers.
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