FAQ

BallastWISE is a portable ballast water compliance monitoring device (CMD) developed by MicroWISE. It analyses ballast water samples and determines whether they meet IMO and USCG discharge standards by counting live organisms in the required size classes.

• 10–50 μm microorganisms
• ≥50 μm organisms

BallastWISE can typically deliver compliance test results in around 40 minutes, allowing inspectors and operators to verify ballast water quality quickly during inspections or commissioning tests.

No. BallastWISE is designed as a portable testing system, meaning compliance testing can be performed onboard vessels or in the field without sending samples to a laboratory.

BallastWISE uses automated microscopy combined with motion detection and fluorescence analysis to identify and count living organisms in ballast water samples. This automated approach replicates traditional laboratory microscopy methods while enabling faster onboard analysis.

After analysing a sample, BallastWISE automatically produces a one-page compliance report showing the number of organisms detected and whether the ballast water meets regulatory discharge limits. 

No, we provide regular updates to our software, which you can always access in our customer portal. These updates are free of charge.

BallastWISE is calibrated prior to delivery. The parameters that need to be calibrated are the camera focus and the camera exposure, to match the LED light intensity.

It is highly recommended to annually check that a BallastWISE unit is in focus and that the camera settings are ok, to ensure the continued integrity of the measurement data. To support our customers, MicroWISE has developed an automated calibration test tool, which you can purchase seperately and use to test your BallastWISE whenever you need.

Due to the risk of cross-sample contamination, we recommend changing the chambers for every live test. In a laboratory or test environment, the chambers can be carefully cleaned to remove any particles or organisms, if so desired.

Yes. BallastWISE has been fully tested and validated according to IMO and ISO standards. The system has undergone extensive evaluation by end-users, accredited laboratories, and organizations providing compliance testing.

You can view the full validation report here: BallastWISE Verification Report (PDF)

Yes. A laptop is the usual choice because it is compact and portable. The minimum hardware requirements are currently: 8GB RAM, quad-core CPU (PassMark CPU benchmark > 10,000), hard drive write speed > 120MB/s (PassMark Hard Drive benchmark > 7,000). To see if your computer meets the minimum requirements, check the CPU model benchmarks under www.passmark.com. If your disk is a solid-state (SSD) disk, it will most likely meet the disk benchmark requirements, but you can also check the disk model if in doubt.

Yes — BallastWISE has been fully validated according to IMO Circular 78. This ensures the system meets international standards for ballast water testing and compliance.

For more details, see our news article on the validation.

The sample volumes can be adjusted, and larger samples will take longer time to analyze, and in principle there is no upper limit.

Absolutely. The BallastWISE database provides options for data integration of almost any kind. We provide data integration services as part of our implementation services, or as a stand-alone service. Contact us for further details on this.

Our standard delivery time is 2–4 weeks, depending on the number of units ordered and your location. For large orders or specific regions, we can provide a tailored estimate.

Yes. MicroWISE products are available worldwide, subject to local import regulations. Orders are fulfilled from our headquarters in Denmark, and our team can advise on authorized distributors or shipping options for your region.

Yes. We work with potential users to provide product demonstrations or trial leases, depending on the project and operational requirements. Our team can help determine the best option to meet your testing or evaluation needs.