Our experts have contributed to a new peer-reviewed paper examining ten years of ballast water data submitted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), highlighting a clear trend toward improved compliance across the maritime sector.
Authored by Peter Stehouwer, Guillaume Drillet, Claudio Gianoli, Li Gang, Aristea Zacharopoulou, Vladimiro Bonamin, and former SGS expert Lisa Drake, the study “A decade of ballast water data submitted to the U.S. EPA: A trend toward improved compliance” analyses thousands of operational records collected since ballast water regulations were implemented.
The research shows that, over time, ship operators have significantly improved compliance, supported by better treatment technologies, more consistent monitoring practices, and increased regulatory maturity. Importantly, the paper A Decade of Ballast Water Data Shows Progress in Compliance is based on real-world operational data, providing insight into how ballast water management systems perform in practice – not just under test conditions.
As Vladimiro Bonamin, Global Manager – Marine Field Services & Monitoring, explains: “What makes this dataset so valuable is its scale and duration. Looking at ten years of reported data allows us to move beyond isolated cases and clearly see how compliance has evolved, where the industry has improved, and where continued technical and regulatory focus is still needed.”
While the findings are encouraging, the authors emphasize that robust sampling, data quality, and expert interpretation remain critical to ensuring ballast water regulations deliver their intended environmental benefits.
This publication reflects our ongoing commitment to supporting the maritime industry with independent testing, inspection, verification, and advisory services, helping shipowners and operators meet complex environmental requirements with confidence.
Read the full scientific paper on ScienceDirect.
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