AMS acceptance by the Coast Guard is a temporary designation given to a ballast water treatment system approved by a foreign administration. Vessel operators may use an AMS to manage their ballast water discharges in lieu of ballast water exchange, while the treatment system undergoes approval testing to Coast Guard standards.
An AMS may be used to meet the Coast Guard ballast water treatment requirements for up to five years after the ship's ballast water discharge standard compliance date specified in the final rule. This five-year time-frame allows for the completion of required land-based and shipboard testing.
