TRIESTE – A new system to counter the arrival of alien species in the seas of the Northern Adriatic has entered service in the ports of Trieste and Monfalcone. Itelyum Sea FVG has launched “Pure Ballast”, the first and only mobile plant in Italy dedicated to the treatment of ships’ ballast water.
The initiative comes in a context that is attracting growing attention from researchers and environmental institutions. According to preliminary data from the Aliena project, funded by the Interreg Italy-Croatia 2021-2027 programme and involving Arpa Friuli Venezia Giulia, there are around 1,100 non-native species in the Mediterranean. Of these, 217 have been recorded in the Adriatic and almost 90 in the Gulf of Trieste alone.
Experts estimate that at least 50% of the alien species present in the Adriatic Sea were introduced through shipping traffic. This phenomenon is mainly linked to ballast water, used by ships to maintain stability and safety during navigation. This water can in fact carry marine organisms, larvae, bacteria and microorganisms from one part of the world to another, favouring their establishment in ecosystems different from those of origin.
The Northern Adriatic is considered particularly vulnerable to this phenomenon due to the combination of intense port activity and environmental characteristics favourable to the survival of introduced species. The arrival of non-native organisms can alter ecological balances, compete with local species and compromise sensitive habitats such as Posidonia meadows.
To respond to this environmental challenge, Itelyum Sea FVG has developed Pure Ballast, a fully containerised and transportable system that can operate directly on the quay. The plant is capable of treating up to 300 cubic metres of water per hour through a process that combines filtration and ultraviolet light.
The technology makes it possible to eliminate particles, organisms and microorganisms without the use of chemicals, ensuring compliance with the international standards set by the International Maritime Organization Convention for the control and management of ballast water.
«The protection of marine biodiversity and the prevention of the introduction of invasive species represent a global challenge that requires concrete and innovative tools. With the entry into service of Pure Ballast, we are making available to the territory a technology that is unique on the national scene, capable of combining operational efficiency and environmental protection», said Itelyum Sea FVG chief executive officer Alessandro Bullo.
