Ballast Water Management System for Ships (Port of Yokohama and Port of Kobe) - July 2003

Ballast Water Management System for Ships (Port of Yokohama and Port of Kobe) - July 2003

Details of Ship Ballast Water Management Systems
Ballast water, which is used by ships to maintain their balance while underway, causes the transfer of pests and alien species between sea areas, contributing to the destruction of ecosystems and water pollution worldwide. In particular, invasive alien species have been reported in the ports of Yokohama, Kobe, and Tokyo Bay, and their negative impact on the ecosystems around the ports has become an issue. To address this problem, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) adopted the Ballast Water Management Convention in 2004, making ballast water management by ships mandatory.

The Convention stipulates that all internationally navigable ships must have ballast water management systems in place by 2024. Ballast water treatment technologies include ultraviolet irradiation, ozone treatment, and thermal treatment, which can render harmful organisms and pathogens in ballast water harmless. Specifically, the ultraviolet treatment system developed by Hitachi Zosen Corporation and the ozone treatment system by Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co. These systems not only increase treatment efficiency, but have also succeeded in reducing energy consumption by about 30% compared to conventional technologies.

In addition, according to 2018 data, approximately 20 million tons of ballast water is treated annually in Japan, and ballast water treatment systems are rapidly becoming widespread, especially in the Ports of Yokohama, Kobe, and Osaka. This has reduced the destruction of ecosystems and adverse effects on fisheries caused by invasive alien species, and further adoption is expected at other ports in the future.

In addition, shipbuilders are also promoting research and development of ballast water management technology, and new systems developed by Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. and IHI Corporation are achieving higher treatment efficiency and cost reductions. Through these efforts, Japan is showing global leadership in ballast water management technology, contributing to environmental protection and the sustainability of the shipping industry.