Question 309Safety & Environmental - Assistant Engineer

The correct answer is D) Prior to entering U.S. waters, a vessel may use any Coast Guard approved alternative environmentally sound method of Ballast Water Management (BWM). This is the correct answer because the U.S. Federal Ballast Water Management regulations allow vessels to use Coast Guard approved alternative methods of BWM, in addition to the standard ballast water exchange requirement. This provides flexibility for vessels to comply with regulations through other environmentally sound practices, as long as they are approved by the Coast Guard. The other answer choices are incorrect because they do not fully align with the current regulations. Option A) is correct for most ocean voyages, but does not account for the alternative methods. Options B) and C) describe procedures that are not permitted under the regulations.