Many shipowners are having problems with ballast water treatment systems (BWTS) installed on their vessels, according to a survey by the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS). 

The findings suggest that shipping will need longer to adopt the new technology than previously anticipated.

In a survey of 27 owners with 220 vessels, 14% of respondents say BWTS are working as expected, while 43% say systems are operating but their ability to kill marine organisms is not being monitored.