Optimal approaches for inline sampling of organisms in ballast water: L-shaped vs. Straight sample probes

•L-shaped and straight sample probes are used to collect ballast water during testing.•Experiments compared the sampling efficiencies of L-shaped and Straight probes.•L-shaped and Straight probes sample organisms with similar efficiencies.

Both L-shaped (“L”) and straight (“Straight”) sample probes have been used to collect water samples from a main ballast line in land-based or shipboard verification testing of ballast water management systems (BWMS). A series of experiments was conducted to quantify and compare the sampling efficiencies of L and Straight sample probes. The findings from this research-that both L and Straight probes sample organisms with similar efficiencies-permit increased flexibility for positioning sample probes aboard ships.