Evaluations of a Ballast Water Treatment to Stop Invasive Species and Tank Corrosion Available to Purchase

Invasive species are one of the most destructive environmental problems facing the world today. They can alter habitats, cause local extinction of native species, and have enormous economic impacts. Because ballast water is the primary source of aquatic invasions, the International Maritime Organization has recently passed regulations that will require ocean-going vessels to treat water prior to discharge. It has proven challenging, however, to find an environmentally friendly treatment that is effective at reducing the potential for invasions and yet also acceptable to the shipping industry in terms of safety, time and cost. Our work has focused on evaluations of deoxygenation in general, and Venturi Oxygen Stripping in particular, because of its ability to kill ballast water organisms and to reduce ballast tank corrosion. Results to date suggest that this approach has the potential to be an effective ballast water treatment option.