Security Levels


 

  National Threat Level: Elevated

No Ballast Onboard (NOBOB)

Ballast Water Management for Vessels that Declare No Ballast Onboard

Background:

On August 31st, 2005, the Coast Guard established a policy of best management practices for vessels entering the Great Lakes that declare No Ballast Onboard (NOBOB). This new policy was established to reduce the introductions of aquatic nonindigenous species (NIS) into the Great Lakes. Vessels declaring NOBOB carry residual ballast water and/or sediments that have the potential to harbor NIS. As these vessels transit the Great Lakes, they off-load their cargo and take on Great Lakes water as ballast water. Once NOBOB vessels take on new cargo, and discharge the mixed (residual and Great Lakes) ballast water, the potential exists for the introduction of NIS into the Great Lakes.

The Coast Guard established best management practices for NOBOBs that encourages them to conduct mid-ocean ballast water exchange on ballast-laden voyages. If they are unable to conduct a mid-ocean ballast water exchange they are encouraged to conduct saltwater flushing of their empty ballast tanks. The NOBOB vessels that employ these practices should incorporate them into their Ballast Water Management Plan. The Coast Guard will monitor the shipping industry’s implementation of these practices to determine the success of the policy.

These best management practices are applicable to all vessels that enter the Great Lakes with empty ballast tanks that may be filled with ballast water and discharged within the Great Lakes.

Similar, but mandatory, rules for NOBOB's have been promulgated by the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (SLSDC) and Saint Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC) regulations which require saltwater flushing for vessels arriving at the seaway (33 CFR 401.30).   Also the U.S. EPA has requirements for flushing of NOBOB tanks found in the Vessel General Permit .[1]

[1] United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), Vessel General Permit for Discharges Incidental to the Normal Operation of Vessels (VGP), Authorization to Discharge Under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System. Permit became effective on December 19, 2008 and expires on December 19, 2013.

Documents:

 

Federal Register (71 FR pp 4605-4606)

NOBOB Environmental Assessment

NOBOB Policy Fact Sheet

Federal Register (70 FR 168 pp 51831-51836)

 

Contact the Environmental Standards Division:

 

Environmental Standards Division (CG-5224)
U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters 
2100 Second Street SW
Washington, DC 20593

Tel: 202-372-1402

E-mail:  environmental_standards@uscg.mil

Listserv:  http://cgls.uscg.mil/mailman/listinfo/environmentalstds

Web:  www.uscg.mil/environmental_standards/