FAQ
Find answers to common questions about ballast water sampling, compliance testing, and the BallastWISE Sampler. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, feel free to contact us directly.
BallastWISE
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.
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10–50 μm microorganisms
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≥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.
BallastWISE Sampler
The BallastWISE Sampler is an automated filtration system developed by MicroWISE for concentrating ballast water samples used in compliance testing. It allows large volumes of ballast water to be filtered efficiently while preserving organisms for accurate analysis. Learn more.
The BallastWISE Sampler filters ballast water through a controlled filtration process that captures organisms ≥50 μm while allowing the remaining water to pass through. The organisms are concentrated into a smaller sample volume that can be used for compliance testing.
Unlike traditional plankton nets, the BallastWISE Sampler automates the filtration process and allows large volumes of ballast water to be processed with minimal operator supervision. This reduces the risk of overflow, sample loss, and operator error during sampling.
Yes. The BallastWISE Sampler is designed for field use and can be connected directly to a vessel’s ballast water sampling port. This makes it suitable for onboard inspections and ballast water compliance monitoring.
Practical
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.
Ballast Water Regulations
Ballast water is seawater carried in ships’ tanks to maintain stability, balance, and structural integrity during voyages. Ballast water is pumped in by large tankers, and bulk cargo carriers, cruise ships. When discharged in a different location, ballast water can introduce non-native marine organisms into new environments. These invasive species can damage ecosystems, fisheries, and coastal infrastructure, which is why international regulations require ships to manage and treat ballast water before discharge.
The IMO Ballast Water Management Convention is an international regulation developed by the International Maritime Organization to prevent the spread of invasive aquatic species through ballast water. It requires ships to manage, treat, and monitor ballast water so that discharged water meets specific biological standards.
The IMO D-2 standard defines the maximum number of viable organisms allowed in discharged ballast water. For organisms ≥50 μm, the limit is fewer than 10 viable organisms per cubic meter of water. Ships must treat ballast water and demonstrate compliance with this standard before discharge. Learn more.
Ballast Water Sampling
Ballast water sampling can be difficult because large volumes of water must be processed to obtain representative samples. In addition, organisms are often unevenly distributed within the water, making accurate sampling technically challenging without specialised sampling equipment.
To evaluate compliance with the IMO D-2 standard, organisms must be counted in 1 cubic meter (1 m³) of ballast water. Because this volume is large, sampling systems often concentrate organisms into a smaller sample that can be analyzed more efficiently.
Ballast water sampling equipment typically includes sampling probes, filtration systems, and concentration devices designed to capture organisms from large volumes of water. The BallastWISE Sampler is one such system, efficiently concentrating organisms ≥ 50 µm to prepare representative samples for regulatory analysis and compliance verification.
Traditional plankton nets require continuous monitoring during filtration and can overflow or lose organisms if not carefully managed. They also require experienced operators to ensure the correct water volume is filtered and the resulting sample remains representative.