Destructive invasive species hitch a ride into the Chesapeake Bay in the ballast water of large cargo ships, prompting scientists to seek ways to treat the water before it?s released from the ship.
Researchers from the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science are testing water treatment systems, such as UV filtration or chemicals, to find the most effective and cost efficient way to kill the invaders.
“We will provide independent rigorous data to regulatory agencies on how these systems perform,” said Mario Tamburri, associate professor at the university?s Chesapeake Biological Laboratory and director of the newly created Maritime Environment Research Center.
The center, formed as facility to test environmental solutions, is a collaboration among the university, Maryland Department of Transportation, Maryland Port Administration and U.S. Department of Transportation?s Maritime Administration.
Ballast water treatment has been tested by individual scientists and companies for 10 years, but the university?s program will provide an independent and credible review, he said.
“We aren?t developing the technologies, so we don?t have an agenda,” Tamburri said.
On the bottom deck of the MV Cape Washington in Baltimore?s harbor, water is drawn in from the ship?s ballast tanks into several holding tanks. Half of the water is run through a UV filtration system while the other half is left untreated.
Researchers will also consider the cost to install and run the systems to better advise the shipping industry.
More than 150 invasive species live in the Chesapeake Bay.
“Our Chesapeake Bay is threatened on multiple fronts, including by invasive species,” said Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure subcommittee on Coast Guard and maritime transportation.
Several federal proposals being considered would require ships treat ballast water before releasing it. Ships must exchange ballast water picked up at a foreign port with water from the open ocean before entering a U.S. port, but this is not completely effective for removing invasive organisms, officials said.
“Given that ballast water exchange isn?t completely effective, I strongly support requiring ships to treat ballast water before releasing it,” Cummings said.
