A new U.S. government report released March 13 showed a notable
increase in the number of ballast tank inspections of oceangoing
commercial ships entering the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway
System from outside U.S. or Canadian waters. Ship operators also
improved their compliance with ballast water requirements in
2008 compared with 2007, the report says. The 2008 Summary of
Great Lakes Seaway Ballast Water Working Group released by the
U.S. Coast Guard examined the U.S.-Canada Great Lakes Seaway
System ballast water ship inspection program. The report finds
that 99 percent of all oceangoing ships bound for the Great
Lakes Seaway System ports from outside U.S. or Canadian waters
in 2008 received a ballast tank exam, compared with 74 percent
in 2007. Moreover, the report found that 98.6 percent of all
ships were in compliance with ballast water management
requirements, compared with 95 percent in 2007. The report was
prepared by the Great Lakes Seaway Ballast Water Working Group
(BWWG), which includes represe