Ballast Water Testing

Dalhousie launches new Ballast Water Testing Facility

Dalhousie is proud to announce the launch of Canada’s first ballast water testing facility. Part of the Aquatron Laboratory facilities, the new construction is housed in the Oceans Excellence Centre.

Unfiltered ballast water threatens local species

Ballast water is carried onboard many different kinds of vessels to help balance the ship’s position and buoyancy. Historically, when a ship from one country arrived at port in another country, it emptied its ballast water depositing foreign organisms into the water. The result was highly destructive to both the economy and the ecosystem.

Regulations are changing

To counteract this threat, regulations are being introduced under the guidance of the United Nations International Marine Organisation (UN-IMO) to ensure ships carry treatment systems to prevent the transfer of aquatic species.

Dal’s Aquatron is Canada’s first ballast water testing facility

As part of these regulations, treatment systems will have to be tested before they will be allowed onboard a ship, and the Aquatron is currently the only facility in Canada that is capable of this testing.

Interested in using the Ballast Water Testing Facility?

Contact the Aquatron Manager, John Batt, at (902) 494-3874 or john.batt@dal.ca.