SHIPS from international waters calling at Saudi Aramco ports and terminals are required to arrange - prior to arrival - ballast water indicative sampling through their local shipping agents to demonstrate the ship's are in compliance with the United Nations' IMO Ballast Water Management Convention.
The ballast water indicative sampling report must be submitted to Saudi Aramco's Environmental Protection Department (EPD). An updated Saudi Aramco ?Ballast Water Sampling?form must support the report during every visit to Saudi Aramco ports or terminals, reported GAC Hot Port News.
GAC Saudi Arabia has gained approval from Saudi Aramco's EPD department to start conducting trial tests with locally approved surveyors from August 16. Initially, this will apply to all ships calling at the ports of Raps Tenure and/or Juryman Terminal.
Tests will be carried out onboard one of the company's launch vessels, which will remain alongside the vessel during the inward clearance process. A GAC representative will board the vessel with a surveyor who will collect the samples which will be handed over to the chemist for immediate analysis.
Once the results are available, a report and certification will be issued and returned to the vessel for signature/stamping and return.
