# Trends in Compliance Monitoring Devices (CMDs) in Ships' Ballast Water Treatment Systems
## 2 A Holistic Approach to Monitoring Threats to the Environment in Ballast Water
### Remote Monitoring of Treated Ballast Water  
In Section 2.3 above, automation was alluded to in synthesizing the ballast water record book data to be shared with stakeholders for appropriate action. Since marine technologies are developing constantly to make this synergy possible, it is important to mention that there are some shipping practices, geographic locations and practices that may require unique monitoring solutions such as relying on remote testing of treated ballast water. For example, ballast water harm has been reported on oil rig structures in the Gulf of Mexico [23]. Oil rig ballast water management or the management of ballast operations in extremely remote and/or geographically difficult areas to patrol can benefit from monitoring that is performed remotely. This may mean that treatment of ballast water under the new international regulations may not be as easy to monitor and enforce as in traditional ports (for instance, ballast water management at an offshore marine site is not as accessible as a port on mainland where the authorities may easily reach that area).  
It has been proven that in ballast water management, digitization and reporting that took place in 2022, particularly in Brazilian ballast water management and compliance, accounted for a significant rise in BWM Convention compliance [24]. Clearly, digitization allows for the constant flow of information on monitoring compliance data and it is extremely efficient, as the authors found that 'the digitalization of the reports in 2022 allowed more complex automated analysis...and more effective bio-security assessments [24] (pp. 1-3)'. On a technical note regarding remote monitoring of ship's ballast water, a technology was proposed by [PERSON] et al. known as Flow Cytometry, which, together with satellite communication, has also proven efficient in providing an ongoing fight against AIS and marine pollution through ballast water tanks by obtaining a pre-confirmation of clean treated ballast water so that there is no delay once reaching port controls of various States [25].  
Flow cytometry has applications related to the detection of the presence of certain cells and has been described as an ideal monitoring and auto-reporting device for this process. Flow cytometry was one of the earliest proposed technologies in the early process of ballast water testing, monitoring and reporting [26]. It is suggested that this type of technology clearly has the potential to contribute to a monitoring model under the new international law in a way that encourages rapid results, smart record keeping and agrees with the digitization of ballast water management. In 2024, the device has produced even better results as the technology has been developing in various industries.  
Figure 2: Source: author, [PERSON]. Illustration—stakeholder communication on environmental threats using automated data (USCG: inspect and retain (only in extremely sensitive circumstances). Investigate. Cooperate with ships. Ballast water electronic data automated to authorities (with technicians to confirm at Port State).