Activities
My research titles is as follows: An Investigation into Ships’ Ballast Water Management in Trinidad and Tobago
Summary:
Ballast water is seawater taken onboard by ships for purposes of stability, maneuverability, and cargo loading and offloading. Uptake by a vessel in one geographic region of the world and discharge into another during routine shipping operations may facilitate the transfer of harmful aquatic organisms and pathogens (HAOP) along a journey that is otherwise naturally
impossible for most biological organisms to make. Some may survive the journey in the ballast tanks becoming established marine alien invasive species (IAS) in distant marine ecosystems with resulting environmental, economic, social and public-health disruptions.
Previous studies have linked shipping to marine IAS in Trinidad such as the Green Mussel (Perna viridis) resulting in environmental and economic consequences. Internationally, ballast water management standards are governed through the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships Ballast Water and Sediments, 2004 as adopted by the
International Maritime Organization. Trinidad and Tobago is a party to the Convention which, under Article 13 encourages member states to conduct research to support effective implementation of its provisions. This research will focus on assessing ballast water management and its implications in Trinidad and Tobago as the impact of marine IAS from ballast water in Trinidad and Tobago is not fully understood with little to no scientific
supporting research.
This research proposes firstly, to conduct a Caribbean wide literature review on ballast water and associated marine IAS studies along with an assessment of ballast water implementation status across the Caribbean region to provide a snapshot of research, knowledge and implementation. Next, we propose sampling and analysis of the biological constituents of ships ballast water in a port of Trinidad followed by modelling the dispersion
and spread of ballast water when discharged into the receiving marine environment by utilization of appropriate hydrodynamic modelling software. Lastly, a ballast water management protocol will be developed to guide regulators, academia and maritime industry professionals on implementation and compliance of ballast water standards and international best practices. The outcome of this study is intended to inform the development of future
legislation, strategies, policies, guidelines and standard operating procedures for ballast water management and prevention of marine IAS in Trinidad and Tobago and enable knowledge sharing to other Caribbean islands.
Richmond Basant
Department of Life Sciences, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine
PhD Candidate (Part-time) Environmental Biology (Commenced 2021)
Supervisors: Prof. Judith Gobin, Dr. Azad Mohammed, Dr. La Daana Kanhai, Dr. Dayne Buddo
Tel: 1 (868) 756 6331 Email: richmondbasant@gmail.com
Skills
- Social skills– Efficient team player fostering healthy relationships and ability to deal with conflict while motivating others through willingness to learn.
- Organisational skills– Ability to ensure success of tasks by clarifying desired objectives utilising project management skills considering time and resources.
- Communication Skills- Ability to effectively communicate with individuals, delivery of presentations, and relate information.
- Technical skills– Ability to effectively critique scientific information and communicate technical information clearly
- Information Technology Skills– Efficient user of Microsoft Office Suite and beginner user of scientific statistical software
- Application Skills- Knowledge of scientific sampling, research and laboratory techniques in addition to government protocols for inspections and field work
