Ballast Water Exchange: Efficacy of treating ships’ ballast water to reduce marine species transfers and invasion success

The Smithsonian Environmental Research Center performed a series of experiments on board oil tankers to determine the efficacy rate of mid-ocean ballast water exchange in reducing the amount of species transferred in ballast water from port to port. The study found ballast water exchange on oil tankers arriving to Prince William Sound was highly effective and that the technique is a valuable management tool. This management tool is not currently required for the tankers engaged in the Trans Alaska Pipeline oil trade.