Korean Register Expands Its BWMS Testing Facilities

IMO The Korean Register of Shipping (KR), a member of the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS), has expanded its land-based test facilities for Ballast Water Management System (BWMS). Manufacturers who have already secured BWMS type approval from their administrations or have developed new equipment and want to secure USCG type approval testing are currently facing long delays because there are not enough test facilities, the Korean Register said. Therefore, KR and one of its partners, Korea Marine Equipment Research Institute (KOMERI), joined forces to establish and build additional test facilities to meet this demand. The test facility has been expanded through the addition of three further units, and it now offers a total testing capacity for Max. TRC 500 m3/h of BWMS together with four testing slots. KR’s goal is to meet the growing demand for testing and certifying services from BWMS manufacturers around the world, and by providing high quality specialist services to support the development of improved, more reliable BWMS, the register said. The new facility will be approved by the USCG in September and at the same time will become fully operational for land-based testing for USCG type approval as well type approval testing for other Administrations under the IMO’s G8 guidelines.