News

Albion Marine Solutions has undertaken a Research and Development project to evaluate the efficacy of existing type-approved BWMS filtration technology

25 April 2023

Albion Marine Solutions has undertaken a research and development project to evaluate the efficacy of existing type-approved BWMS filtration technology within the North American Great Lakes water. The already in-use, type-approved Ballast Water Treatment System performs very well in normal sea conditions. The Two main types of Ballast Water Treatment Systems – EC and UV, are facing challenges while operated in Great Lakes caused by low salinity, low temperature, and high turbidity. Albion Marine Solutions will test a type-approved BWMS filter to check whether the Great Lakes ballast water meets current discharge standards.

Under this R&D project, Albion Marine Solutions is collaborating with the partner maker of the Ballast Water Treatment System to supply the filter to the testing location in Great Lakes. The filter which is being tested is both environmentally safe and optimally designed to be used on all vessels. The Great Water Research Collaborative team (GWRC) will test the filter at the Montreal Pier Facility, Superior, WI., from 2023 to 2024 with continuous support from Albion Marine Solutions. The filter will be tested during the spring and summer of 2023, including cold-water ice particle testing in the winter of 2023.

The one-year project will help fill the data gaps associated with filter performance under Great Lakes water quality and biology conditions by measuring the performance of ballast water filters when challenged with cold waters, ice, filamentous protists, and high concentrations of total suspended solids. To conclude, the R& D project will determine the capabilities of approved BWMS to see whether the current filtering technologies can endure the natural environmental conditions of the Great Lakes. Albion Marine Solutions is a global leader, and Canada’s only ABS & Lloyd’s approved service supplier for biological testing of Ballast Water Treatment Systems has completed a significant number of projects worldwide for IMO-D2 Commissioning and the 2013 EPA VGP Discharge Standards. For more information, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

IMO has welcomed the landmark agreement on a new oceans treaty to protect marine biodiversity on the high seas

06 March 2023

IMO welcomes new oceans treaty. Albion Marine Solutions actively contributes to the conservation and protection of marine biological diversity, including the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution by ships (MARPOL) and the International Ballast Water Management Convention – which aims to prevent the transfer of potentially invasive aquatic species – as well as the London Convention and Protocol regulating the dumping of wastes at sea.

IMO has welcomed the landmark agreement on a new oceans treaty to protect marine biodiversity on the high seas. The new legally binding international instrument on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction – known as 'BBNJ' was agreed on 4 March, following conclusion of the fifth round of treaty negotiations at the United Nations headquarters in New York, United States.

According to IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim said: This landmark achievement will no doubt reinforce efforts to protect biodiversity in line with the aims of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Kunming-Montreal Global Framework for Biodiversity.

The BBNJ treaty addresses, among other things:

The conservation and sustainable use of marine BBNJ.
Marine genetic resources, including questions on benefit-sharing (MGR).
Area Based Management Tools (ABMT), including marine protected areas.
Environmental impact assessments (EIA); and
Capacity-building and the transfer of marine technology (CB&TMT)

All ships must abide by the numerous safety regulations that the IMO has adopted, both inside and outside of PSSAs (designated sensitive sea areas), as well as in special and emission control zones. They include stringent guidelines for operating discharges, no-go zones, and other ship routing systems, including those designed to prevent shipping from passing over whales' breeding grounds. For more information contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

EEXI & CII - Ship Carbon Intensity & Rating System

03 January 2023

According to the regulations, from 1 January 2023, it will be mandatory for all ships to calculate their attained Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index (EEXI) to measure their energy efficiency and to initiate the collection of data for the reporting of their annual operational carbon intensity indicator (CII) and CII rating. EEXI benchmarking of shipowner's fleets is required immediately so that technological enhancements can be addressed, and the contractual aspect planned.

Albion Marine Solutions EEXI & Decarbonization experts are working on large vessel EEXI and CII compliance requirements by providing clients with amended technical files and decarbonization solutions. Contact our team so that we can give you the best solutions as per your vessel's size and sailing needs. For more information contact at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Albion Marine conducted an assessment of the abandoned ship, "La Grande Hermine."

25 November 2022

Albion Marine investigated and examined an abandoned ship perched on the shoreline at Jordan Harbour, close off Lake Ontario's western side, between Hamilton and St. Catharines. The ship was built in 1914 in Quebec and began as a ferry on St. Lawrence before becoming a freight ship and finally a floating restaurant. The abandoned ship arrived in Jordan Harbour in 1997 to be converted into another restaurant and became the victim of an arson fire in January 2003.

Albion Marine surveyor begins with a ship basic survey, then searches for hazardous materials, evaluates the vessel's stability, validates the ship's structural integrity, assesses risk, and evaluates the current safety and security. Albion Marine Solutions has been retained by the Vessels of concern Incident Management. These assessments are carried out as part of the application of section 36 of the Act respecting wrecks, abandoned, dilapidated, or hazardous vessels, and salvage operations.

Albion Marine Solutions is working on its sustainable mission to preserve and protect the marine environment, coastlines, and waterways. For more information, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) implemented new towing and mooring equipment guidelines

25 October 2022

The International Maritime Organization's Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) recently implemented new requirements and issued related guidelines on towing and mooring equipment to improve the safety of seafarers during mooring and unmooring operations and to mitigate the rising trend of dangerous and sometimes fatal mooring operations.

Shipowners and operators need to be aware that the new regulations for inspection and maintenance of mooring equipment (including lines) apply to all ships in service from 1 January 2024. The necessary documentation needed to comply with the new regulations should be in place ahead of the entry into force date. Albion Marine solutions can assist you in complying with the new regulations which must be place ahead of the entry into force date.

These new requirements are incorporated in the amendments to SOLAS Regulation II-1/3-8 contained in Resolution MSC.474(102) and come into force on 1 January 2024. Ahead of the above date, shipowners, shipbuilders, designers, and operators need to consider these upcoming regulatory changes and guidelines when finalizing any new build designs. Shipowners and operators need to ensure they have the required maintenance plans, procedures, and records in place before these changes come into force

Revised guidance on shipboard towing and mooring equipment (MSC.1/ Circ.1175/Rev.1)

Significant changes for new ships
Significant changes for ships in operation
Impact on ship design
Impact on shipowners and operators

Albion Marine is helping shipowners evaluate towing and mooring arrangements, systems, and equipment on board their vessels engineering, and improvements are required in some circumstances. Please contact Albion Marine "mooring experts" This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to confirm that your ship meets all requirements before the deadline.