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Background
The primary focus of MERC is to evaluate the mechanical and biological efficacy, costs, and logistical
aspects of ballast water treatment systems and to assess the economic impacts of ballast water regulations
and management approaches. Invasions of coastal habitats by non-native aquatic species are increasingly
common worldwide, are known to cause extensive ecological and economic damage, and have the
potential to create human health concerns.
MERC has four main objectives:
•
Provide technology developers/vendors with facilities and expertise for pilot-scale and shipboard
evaluations of treatment systems;
•
Provide regulatory agencies and classification societies with standardized, rigorous, and independent
data on treatment system performance;
•
Provide ship builders and shipping lines with information and decision tools to select the most
appropriate ballast water treatment options; and
•
Remove as much uncertainty as possible from emerging markets for treatment systems in order to
accelerate the adoption of innovative technologies.
While the initial and primary focus of MERC is on ballast water treatment systems, the Center has the
expertise, facilities, academic independence, and scientific integrity that will allow for testing and
assessment of additional technologies and innovations related to Green Shipping, including hull fouling
invasive species, port and vessel air emissions and alternative fuels, and gray and oily water treatments.
MERC conducts certification and R&D testing of ballast water treatment systems at three levels: lab
bench proof-of-concept, land-based prototype, and shipboard validation/verification. Land-based testing
is performed on the MERC Mobile Test Platform, which allows 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. Mobile Test Platform specifications include:
Platform
•
Length – 155’
•
Width – 50’
•
Draft – 3’ when tanks empty and 6’ when tanks full
Facility
•
Testing tanks – Two with capacity 310 m
3
each
•
Pumps and piping – Two 60 hp centrifugal pumps with two eight-inch piping systems for versatility
in moving ballast water and in tank filling and discharge
•
Flow rates – Minimum of 100 m
3
/hr and maximum of over 300 m
3
/hr for each pump
•
Flow pressure – up to 60 psi
•
Municipal freshwater – up to 50 psi available for testing and cleaning
•
Working space – onboard office, laboratory, sampling and storage containers
•
Monitoring and controls – Integrated monitoring and control system for remote control of variable
speed drives flow rates and pressure, plus data logging of valve positions, tank levels/volume, flow
rate, pressure, sampling system operations, treatment system status, water quality parameters, etc.
Treatment System Requirements
•
Treatments can be containerized (10’ or 20’) or as stand-alone units
•
Ballast water connections – 8” intake and output
•
Power provided for treatment systems: 100 Amps, 440 Vac, 60 Hertz, 3 phase; 50 Amps, 440 Vac,
60 Hertz, 3 phase; and 30 Amps, 120 Vac, 60 Hertz