Feature 4 | SHIPBOARD WATER TREATMENT
“have to jump through hoops” to achieve the Type Approval. “Type Approval represents a minimum
standard, however, it tends to be mistaken to mean more than that”, says Roger Strevens, solutions development manager, Wilhelmsen Technical Solutions. He points out, systems are tested with certain types of waters as laid down by the IMO guidelines and that Type Approval confirms that a system is compliant with those specific conditions. What the boundaries of a systems efficacy are not established by type approval testing. However, not everyone has seen the
delay in the ratification of the convention as a bad thing as Tore Andersen, sales and marketing director, Optimarin points out: “We’re glad that the convention hasn’t been ratified, as it gives people more time to develop their systems.” Strevens also says: “With the scale of the
investment that BWT represents, especially for fleets, the kind of company that the BWT vendor is becomes important. BWT systems will be operationally critical and, therefore, service and support globally and it’s availability over the lifetime of the vessel is essential. Tat raises questions about the likelihood of whether a vendor can survive long term and provide that support.”
Ayris also adds that ballast water
treatment system manufacturers spend millions on creating systems, but they need a return. Te longer that the convention goes unratified the longer the manufacturers have to wait for that return. Many ship owners are still waiting for the
convention to be ratified before acting, but whilst they are waiting time is running out for them to fit out vessels in the time given in the convention as it stands to date. Ayris likens the ratification of the convention to the chicken and egg scenario with owners waiting, but people needing act to make the convention happen. “When the convention comes into force, then it can change, there will be a change in timescale for retrofits as can’t see whole fleets getting done in time”, says Ayris. Strevens points out that it is an interesting
time as ship owners are increasingly aware of what questions to ask and what standard of answer to expect”. As for when the convention will be ratified Ayris says that he is quietly confident that it will happen this year and will come into force in 2013. Others are waiting with baited breath, waiting to see what happens with the market, as each year gone past it was expected that the convention would have been ratified. NA
Optimarin seals the deal
Norwegian-based Optimarin has recently announced that it has received a contract to install its ballast water treatment systems (BWTS) onboard 10 Evergreen container ships.
CSBC in Taiwan. Tore Andersen, sales and marketing
T 68
director, Optimarin says: “It’s a nice order, worth quite a lot of money.” Te order is worth NOK23 million (US$3.9 million). Optimarin’s ballast water solution
utilises filtration and high doses of UV irradiation to kill marine organisms, viruses and bacteria. During ballasting, water flows through a 40-micron MicroKill filter, which removes larger organisms and particles and back flushes them overboard at the ballasting location.
he contract will see the BWTS fitted onboard the vessels that are currently under construction at
Aſter passing the filter, the ballast water
continues through the MicroKill UV chambers on its way to the ballast tanks. Te UV light kills or inactivates organisms, viruses and bacteria in the ballast water. Te filter is automatically bypassed during de-ballasting, and the ballast water receives a second UV-treatment during discharge as a safeguard to ensure compliance. Te system has almost no moving parts
and uses only three UV lamps for a typical 500m3
system. It can fit almost anywhere on a
ship, thanks to its modular design, highlights Optimarin. “Our system is self-cleaning and environmentally friendly – using no chemicals – and does not harm a vessel’s ballast water
The Naval Architect May 2012
tanks,” Andersen states: “Te lack of moving parts means there’s less to go wrong, ensuring reliability that is second to none and minimal maintenance costs. NA
Optimarin gets Evergreen contract.
Martyn Ayris, managing director, RWO GmbH Marine Water Technology believes that the convention will be ratified this year.
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