Oceanchest - Beyond the Horizon: Investigation and development of an innovative technological approach to the treatment of ballast water in response to a global environmental issue.

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Maritime traffic corresponds to over 90% of all products transported internationally (IMO2008) and the shipping industry was responsible for 95% of UK imports in 2011 (Departmentfor Transport).2-3 million metric tonnes of ballast water are transferred globally each year(Steichen et al, 2012). The water inside ballast tanks may contain alien species which, oncedischarged and established into the new environment, may disrupt the balance of the marineecosystem (OECD, 2011). It is estimated up to 10000 species can be transported in ballasttanks (Carlton, 1999), with 10 billion tonnes of ballast water transported at any momentacross the globe.As a result, the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has implemented the InternationalConvention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediment. Due tothe imminent introduction of this legislation, which requires all ships to manage the dischargeof ballast water, UK ports and shipping companies will be required to adapt existing fleets(and perhaps ports) in order to provide adequate treatment facilities and comply with thelegislation. the United States Coast Guard (USCG) have introduced a separate policy whichsucceeds that of the IMO in the specificity of its requirements.Oceanchest will investigate the innovative application of a technology to treat ballast waterand meet the strictest of the 2 most widely adopted legislation, with the aim of reducing theglobal economic, environmental and social impact of alien species invasion from ballastwater. This will be achieved through a variety of experiments developed with Liverpool JohnMoores University