NSF International Expands Independent Lab for US Coast Guard BWMS to Add American Bureau of Shipping
(PRWEB) June 02, 2014 -- The NSF International Independent Laboratory (IL), the first designated by the United States Coast Guard (USCG) to test ballast water management systems (BWMS) for U.S. type approval, will now include the American Bureau of Shipping’s (ABS) expertise. ABS will complete design/construction and documentation reviews as part of the type approval, and will work with three other IL partners to maximize the value of USCG type approval testing for BWMS manufacturers. ABS will also evaluate the appropriateness of the systems for installation and operation onboard vessels.
NSF’s IL partnership, formed in 2012, includes Retlif Testing Laboratories, the Great Ships Initiative, the Maritime Environmental Resource Center and now ABS. The combined IL evaluates and tests technologies designed to treat ballast water on ships to meet the USCG requirements. Importantly, USCG approval of onboard BWMS is required for vessels entering and discharging treated ballast water in U.S. waters to prevent the spread of non-native aquatic species in lakes, rivers and coastal waters.
ABS is a not-for-profit organization that operates as a classification society. Classification societies verify that marine vessels and offshore structures comply with rules that the society has developed to assess the design and construction of new vessels and the integrity of existing vessels. The inclusion of ABS in the IL partnership brings an additional layer of credibility and experience to the program.
Ballast water management system manufacturers apply to NSF International and the USCG for testing, review and evaluations in anticipation of compliance and type approval by the USCG. NSF coordinates testing among all partner organizations, including preparation of test plans, review of test data (technical and quality assurance) and preparation of the final report for submittal to the USCG. Experienced ABS staff will evaluate BWMS material design and construction for compliance with USCG regulations and for appropriateness for installation and operation onboard operating vessels. In the same manner, ABS will evaluate the content of the BWMS operation, maintenance and safety manual.
NSF International has provided support to the USCG for more than 30 years in various testing capacities, and managed the U.S. EPA Environmental Technology Verification Program’s Water Quality Protection Center (WQPC) for more than 15 years. The WQPC, with valuable contributions from many ballast water treatment stakeholders, developed the protocols used for this BWMS testing.
“Over the past 13 years, we have worked with the USCG, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and other very experienced and industry-leading organizations to develop this protocol. We appreciate the USCG acceptance of ABS into the NSF International Independent Laboratory to further strengthen the ballast water management system testing and evaluation process. The addition of ABS brings immense maritime experience and expertise to the Independent Lab, which will benefit our BWMS manufacturer customers,” stated Tom Bruursema, General Manager of NSF International’s Sustainability Division.
“ABS is enthusiastic about our partnership with the NSF International Independent Laboratory. The combined capabilities of the members are without parallel in the maritime testing and certification field,” said Tom Kirk, Director of Environmental Programs at ABS. “We expect our participation to provide additional technical credibility to results submitted to USCG, improving the likelihood of acceptance.”
For more information on the BWMS testing program, please contact Tom Stevens at +1 734.769.5347 or stevenst(at)nsf(dot)org.
Editor’s note: To schedule an interview with NSF Sustainability Technical Manager Tom Stevens, contact Greta Houlahan at media(at)nsf(dot)org or +1 734-827-6850.
About NSF International: NSF International is an independent organization that writes standards, and tests and certifies products for the food, water and consumer goods industries to minimize adverse health effects and protect the environment (nsf.org). Founded in 1944, NSF is committed to protecting human health and safety worldwide. NSF International is a Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization Collaborating Center on Water and Indoor Quality and Food Safety.
NSF International's Water Programs require extensive product testing and unannounced audits of production facilities to verify that water treatment products meet design, material and performance requirements. NSF International is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).
NSF led the development of the American National Standards for all materials and products that treat or come in contact with drinking water. In 1990, the U.S. EPA replaced its own drinking water product advisory program with these NSF standards. Today, most major plumbing codes require certification to NSF standards for pipes and plumbing components in commercial and residential buildings. NSF Sustainability draws upon this expertise in standards development, product assurance and certification, advisory services and quality management systems to help companies create more sustainable products, operations, systems and supply chains.
About American Bureau of Shipping: Founded in 1862, ABS is a leading international classification society devoted to promoting the security of life, property and the marine environment through the development and verification of standards for the design, construction and operational maintenance of marine-related facilities.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Greta Houlahan
NSF International
Phone: +1 734-913-5723
Email: media(at)nsf(dot)org
Greta Houlahan, NSF International, http://www.nsf.org/consumer, +1 (734) 913-5723, [email protected]
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