Holding times in Ballast Water Management
Hold times take time
The USCG requires UV systems to have a minimum hold time, which is defined as the shortest allowable time between ballast water uptake and ballast water discharge.
If the minimum required hold time is not achieved before a de-ballast operation, it could result in serious operational issues such as e.g. inability to start cargo operations because ballast water cannot be discharged yet.
To complicate matters further, hold time requirements are for many Ballast Water Management Systems dependent on UV-I and salinities (for example fresh, brackish or sea water).
The required hold time can also be affected when UV-I drops suddenly during ballast water uptake. This makes operation and planning even more complicated, as the required hold time is not known until the ballast operation has been completed.
For some systems, a hold time of up to 72 hours in USCG-regulated waters should be observed. In US regulated waters the CompactClean only requires a holding time of two hours for all salinities irrespective of UV-I levels. In IMO waters the CompactClean has no hold time requirement.
With CompactClean planning is easy, and your operational flexibility is ensured.
