MERC Call for Applications to Evaluate Ballast Water Treatment Systems
MERC is offering test and evaluation services to developers/manufacturers of ballast water treatment systems designed to prevent the transport of non-native aquatic species and to meet IMO and USCG ballast water discharge standards. The goal is to further the efficient and effective transition of treatments from concept and prototype to certification and routine operational use.
MERC research services evaluate treatment effectiveness against a range of taxonomic and size categories of ambient organisms in the lab and at the land-based and full shipboard scales. MERC testing is open to all developers/manufacturers from the US and around the world and is currently free of charge for qualifying applicants. However, cost for the transportation, installation, and removal of the test system must be covered by the developers.
Test protocols are based on IMO G8/G9 guidelines and US EPA ETV protocols. All test plans and evaluation results will be made available to the public as final reports, after peer-review and submission to MERC funding agencies.
Test Facility
MERC offers testing on a Mobile Test Platform, that will allow ballast water treatment systems to be evaluated in Baltimore MD (salinity 5 - 12 psu), Norfolk VA (salinity 18 - 25 psu) and/or Washington DC (Anacostia River, 0 psu) with one system installation. The MERC facility (pictured above) includes two 300 m3 tanks, two 300 m3/hr pumps and all other associated infractructure to complete G8/G9 and ETV testing. For examples of prior test protocols and final reports see MERC Reports.
For detailed specifications and information [click here] or please contact George Smith, MERC Facility Manager (smithgeo@si.edu).
MERC also offers some selected system testing onboard the US Maritime Administration vessel Cape Washington. Please contact Mario Tamburri (tamburri@umces.edu).
Current MERC ballast water treatment system testing locations.  
A freshwater location for testing within the Chesapeake Bay will be established in 2013.

  2. Deadlines
    Applications accepted at any time.

    Application Form

    Submission Process:
    MERC will consider any complete applications forms, with cover letter and attachments, that are submitted electronically via email to tamburri@umces.edu. Clearly label all attachments with the application question to which they correspond and list them in the application in the spaces provided. To be considered, all applications must be accompanied by full author reference information and listed in the application form.

    Review and Selection:
    All applications and related material will be reviewed by MERC Testing Team and Advisory Board. Decisions will be made based on completeness of application package, likelihood that the proposed treatment system will ultimately, effectively and efficiently meet discharge standards onboard commercial vessels (independent of technology readiness level or maturity), and available resources.
    Assuming developers of qualified systems respond to this solicitation, the MERC anticipate:

    Bench-scale testing services for up to two candidate treatment systems;
    Pilot-scale testing services on the MERC Mobile Test Platform to up to three candidate treatment systems;
    Active shipboard testing services to no more than two candidate system.
    * Contingent upon available resources.

    Contact Information:
    Direct any questions regarding this solicitation, application process or test facilities by
    e-mail to Mario Tamburri (tamburri@umces.edu) or George Smith, MERC Facility Manager (smithgeo@si.edu).