rwo 25412,bwt guide 2012

April 2012 www.fairplay.co.uk

IHS Fairplay Solutions

Ballast Water

sponsored by

Guide to

Treatment Systems

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© IHS Global Limited 2012 3

Sponsored by IHS Fairplay Solutions Guide to Ballast Water Treatment Systems

IntroductionLast-minute wrangling continues to delay implementation

Regulation timelineWhat is needed and when under the IMO and US regulations

How systems workAn overview of the technologies employed in ballast water treatment

SystemsOperational methods of most of the systems now available

Systems status tableA snapshot of the current approval status of commercial systems

Implementing a systemInitial preparations for choosing and installing a treatment system

PracticalitiesAdvice on compiling a system implementation checklist

Sampling port state controlWhy testing and sampling could prove an obstacle to implementation

Treatments of choice [RWO]RWO describes the development and approval story of CleanBallast

Inside your guide...

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4 © IHS Global Limited 2012

When ships began using seawater as

ballast over a century ago it is unlikely

that anyone foresaw that the practice

would be blamed for spreading alien

species around the world’s oceans or that

ballast would have to undergo treatment

to prevent species migration.

But that is exactly what has happened. While the shipping industry cannot be blamed for every transfer of marine organisms, it must recognise it has a duty to protect fragile ecologies while continuing to benefi t from the advantages that using water ballast can bestow on vessel operations.

Ballast water allows vessels to operate effi ciently when empty or part-loaded and permits stability to be managed. It can be a useful tool that enables underwater repairs to be undertaken without drydocking and in preventing pollution through altering a damaged ship’s attitude in the water.

The IMO approved the International Ballast Water Management (BWM) Convention in 2004, which, when enough ratifying signatures have been added, will aff ect almost all vessels over 400gt. Inevitably, owners will face extra costs in complying with the convention, mostly without any obvious benefi t in return. Nevertheless, careful selection of an appropriate system, whether as a retrofi t or a newbuilding installation, may allow some of the costs to be off set.

More than 40 systems are at or close to commercialisation using one or more methods – mechanical, physical and chemical – to treat the ballast water. Most will result in a big reduction in sediment in ballast tanks, benefi ting operators through an increase in cargo-carrying ability. The legislation also off ers an opportunity to replace ineffi cient

Introduction

pumping and piping systems, since many existing pumps may not be up to the task.

That the convention remains unratifi ed is a combination of some fl ag states objecting to the testing and sampling procedures that will be used to police the operation and others not convinced that suffi cient systems are yet at a stage ready for installation on board. Owners appear to be delaying installation while they weigh the various options that are emerging .

Manufacturers may off er incentives for early orders to recoup some of their R&D costs and some have guaranteed that systems still to be approved will either be made to comply or they will refund the cost should they not do so.

Operators should also consider carefully whether shipyards will be able to accommodate the rush to install equipment when the retrofi t deadlines arrive. Not only are equipment prices sure to rise but also any delay in fi nding yard capacity could hit earnings hard.

Malcolm LatarcheEditor

Owners appear to be delaying installation while they weigh the various options that are emerging

IHS Fairplay Solutions Guide to Ballast Water Treatment Systems Sponsored by

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Convention

The convention’s timeline has already

been amended once because of the lack

of signatures. However, although the

IMO has indicated that no further

dispensations will be granted, the

convention is not yet in force.

By 1 January 2012 all newbuildings should have been delivered with a ballast water treatment system fi tted. From that date, vessels built since 2009 and falling within the rules must install a system by their next drydocking. All vessels above 400gt that carry ballast water must have a system in place by the end of 2016. Between 50,000 and 70,000 vessels will have to install ballast water management systems before 2019.

For the 2004 International Ballast Water Convention to come into full force, it must be ratifi ed by 30 countries. This goal has been achieved. As of February 2012, 33 countries representing 26.46% of world tonnage have signed the convention, but it will only enter into force 12 months after the signatories’ combined merchant fl eets constitute at least 35% of the gross tonnage of the world’s merchant shipping. If any of the compliance dates within the convention pass before it is ratifi ed they will be applied retrospectively if and when that target has been achieved.

Despite mounting pressure from both the green lobby and IMO itself, the BWM Convention has not yet been fully ratifi ed and cannot enter into force without more signups.

timeline

Photo: Shutterstock

20122 20162 20192

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The countries that have offi cially declared their support are Albania, Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Brazil, Canada, Cook Islands, Croatia, Egypt, France, Iran, Kenya, Kiribati, Lebanon, Liberia, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Mongolia, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Palau, Republic of Korea, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Trinidad & Tobago and Tuvalu.

Under the IMO regulations there are two treatment standards. These are designated D1 and D2.

D1 is a ballast water exchange (BWE) rather than treatment standard. It calls for 95% of the water to be exchanged 200nm off shore in at least 200m of water or for a pump-through of three times the volume of each tank. Because no treatment of the water is involved it is seen as a temporary method of ensuring species transfer is limited, if not eliminated.

The D2 standard, applicable to newbuildings and eventually to all aff ected existing ships under a rolling programme, requires the installation of ballast-water

treatment systems. Systems must be type-approved and capable of meeting a cleaning standard that results in fewer than 10 viable organisms per cubic metre if the organisms are 50μm or larger, or 10 viable organisms per millilitre if they are smaller than 50μm.

The convention document has a number of associated guidelines, some of which are now obsolete. However, operators should be aware of guideline G4, which covers practical matters such as development of the ballast water management plan that all ships will need to have on board.

Type-approval of systems follows one of two paths depending on whether or not the treatment process makes use of an ‘active substance’. Active substances – chemical or biological biocides – used in the treatment process must also be approved by the IMO. All systems must undergo tests at a shore testing station and on board vessels under operational conditions before gaining approval.

The approval process for a system that does not use an active substance is laid down in guideline G8; for systems that do the procedure is in guideline G9.

Table 1: IMO Ballast water treatment compliance schedule

Ballast capacity (m3)

Construction date

First intermediate or renewal survey, whichever occurs fi rst after the anniversary of the date of delivery in the year indicated below

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

< 1,500 < 2009 D1 or D2

D2

≤ 2009 D2

≥ 1,500 or≤ 5,000

< 2009 D1 or D2

D2

≤2009 D2

> 5,000 < 2012 D1 or D2

D2

≤ 2012 N/A D2

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Phase 1: Implementation schedule for Phase 1 ballast-water management programme

Ballast-water capacity (m3) Construction date Compliance date

New vessels (all capacities) On or after 1 December 2013 On delivery

Existing vessels < 1,500 Before 1 December 2013 First drydocking after 1 Jan 2016

Existing vessels 1,500–5,000 Before 1 December 2013 First drydocking after 1 Jan 2014

Existing vessels > 5,000 Before 1 December 2013 First drydocking after 1 Jan 2016

Stricter rules in the USAThe IMO’s Ballast Water Convention will eventually apply to most of the world, but some countries have indicated that they may set their own rules and a few have already done so in advance of the ratifi cation of the IMO convention. The convention is intended to apply globally, but separate though similar legislation is making its way through the US legal system.

The USA adopted a unique set of rules governing both its own fl agged ships and foreign vessels in US ports and within the country’s territorial waters. These contained diff erences from the discharge standards in the IMO regulations. Under United States federal rules a two-phase system was proposed. In the fi rst phase, the quality standards were to be much the same as the IMO convention standards. The second phase, however, originally proposed for introduction in 2016, set far more stringent and highly controversial water standards.

An example of the diff erence between the US Phase 2 and IMO convention rules was the standard for living organisms larger than 50μm. While the IMO (and US Phase 1) standards require fewer than 10 organisms per cubic metre of ballast, US Phase 2 rules

set a maximum of one organism/100m3.In November 2011, after individual US

states threatened to impose their own requirements, federal lawmakers approved a single nationwide ballast water discharge standard that conforms to performance standards set by the IMO. The Commercial Vessel Discharges Reform Act of 2011 was approved by the US House of Representatives on 13 October. It had to pass a vote in the Senate before it could be signed into law.

The legislation amends the federal Clean Water Act by prohibiting the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from permitting individual states to impose requirements on top of federal standards. The act also requires the US Coast Guard (USCG) to set a schedule for vessel owners to install ballast water treatment technology that has been certifi ed to the new standard.

All ships entering US waters must comply with the vessel general permit (VGP), which sets out best practices, training and documentation rules for 26 incidental vessel discharges, including ballasting, deck runoff , bilgewater and greywater. Its regulators include the US Coast Guard and the EPA.

Alleging that the VGP violated the Clean Water Act by failing to regulate ballast

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Development in USA keeps in STEP

The Shipboard Technology Evaluation Program (STEP) is a USCG initiative aimed at encouraging the

development of treatment systems and shipboard testing. In the words of the USCG, STEP facilitates

“…the development of effective ballast water treatment technologies, through experimental systems,

thus creating more options for vessel owners seeking alternatives to ballast water exchange”.

The STEP programme offers incentives to vessels for engaging in the development and use of

experimental treatment technologies. A vessel accepted into STEP prior to USCG ballast water dis-

charge standards being decided will be considered to have an equivalent ballast water management

practice in compliance with federal regulations for the life of the treatment equipment or the life of the

vessel, whichever is shorter.

Vessels accepted to STEP after the establishment of discharge standards will be granted equiva-

lency status to the ballast water discharge standards for 10 years.

water suffi ciently, environmental groups concerned over invasive species sued the EPA. A settlement that was confi rmed on 8 March 2011 stipulated that the new VGP, which enters force in January 2014, “will include concentration-based effl uent limits for discharges of ballast water expressed as organisms per unit”.

In February 2012, New York State dropped plans for a ballast treatment rule that was deemed unrealistic by shipowners and manufacturers alike and could have closed the St Lawrence Seaway and the Port of New York-New Jersey to most shipping.

USCG Commissioner Joe Martens of the New York Department of Environmental Conservation said on 23 February the state will support a national ballast regulation standard being advanced by the EPA.

The Canadian government welcomed New York’s announcement and agreed that uniform standards are the best way to protect the marine environment.

Late in March the USCG published a new fi nal ruling on ballast water treatment that recognises that the construction dates in the

initial Phase 1 rules have now passed and has amended the implementation requirement accordingly. However, the compliance date for ships remains eff ectively unaltered.

This means that new vessels built after 1 December 2013 must have a functioning approved system on board and vessels built before that date with a ballast capacity between 1,500m3 and 5,000m3 will be required to fi t one at the fi rst drydocking after 1 January 2014. Other sizes of existing vessels have two years beyond that to comply.

The new rule also postpones indefi nitely the controversial Phase 2 standards on the grounds that independent scientifi c advice has shown that they are currently unachievable. Higher standards have not been entirely abandoned, as the rule allows for the existing Phase 2 or other standards in excess of the Phase 1 (IMO equivalent) limits to be introduced at a future date.

Whether that happens will depend on the performance standards that treatment systems are able to achieve. In order to decide, regular reviews of the commercial systems and developing technologies will take place.

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The technology used to treat ballast

water has generally been derived from

other industrial applications, in which

forms of solid-liquid separation and

disinfection processes were applied.

The separation process concerns the removal of solid suspended material from the ballast water by sedimentation or straining by means of a fi lter. This produces a waste stream that comprises backwash water from the fi ltering or a hydrocyclone operation. The waste stream is discharged during ballasting.

Disinfection may be achieved in a number of ways. Chemical treatment uses oxidising biocides that interfere with the micro-organism’s organic structure or non-oxidising biocides that interact with reproductive or metabolic functions. Physico-chemical treatment systems use UV light, heat or cavitation. Deoxygenation is another method, in which the organism is asphyxiated.

How systems workSo, there are three fundamental ballast

water treatment technologies, which are generally combined within one system. These are mechanical, which consists of fi ltration or cyclonic separation; physical disinfection, comprising ultrasound, ultraviolet (UV) radiation, heat, cavitation, deoxygenation, and coagulation; and chemical treatment and biocides, comprising electro-chlorination, ozonation, chlorination, chlorine dioxide and advanced oxidation.

Most systems use a two-stage approach involving mechanical separation at the fi rst stage, followed by a second-stage physical/chemical treatment, at which some systems use a combination of two or more treatments.

Operational implications, extended ballasting time as a result of pressure drops, consumables needed and energy requirements all need to be assessed. Solutions compares the various technologies, each of which has its

Solid-liquid separationThe fi ltration process uses discs or fi xed screens with automatic backwashing and is generally eff ective for larger particles and organisms. The low membrane permeability means that surface fi ltration is not practical, so backwashing is required to maintain fl ow because of the pressure drop.

As a means of removing larger particles, hydrocyclones are a good alternative. These separate the particles through high-velocity centrifugal rotation of the water.

Both fi ltration and cyclonic separation can be improved by pre-treatment in the form of coagulation, but this needs extra tank space and an ancillary powder to generate the fl ocs.

Oxidising biocidesWhen diluted in water, chlorine destroys cell walls of organisms, while electro-chlorination creates an electrolytic reaction using a direct current in the water. Both methods are well-established municipally and industrially, but are virtually ineff ective against cysts unless a

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own symbol as shown in the key below.Descriptions of each of the systems that

appear in Table 3 are also provided, designated with the symbol for its technology type.

Disinfection by-products are an issue, and

they are central to the approval of systems that employ an active substance. Generally, these systems treat on uptake only, with the exception of those that use neutralising agents before discharge.

Physical disinfection

1 Coagulation/fl occulation

2 Ultrasound

3 Ultraviolet

4 Heat

5 Cavitation

6 Deoxygenation

7 Electro-chloriation/electrolysis

8 Ozonation

Treatment technology type and symbol

Mechanical

1 Cyclonic separation (hydrocyclone)

2 Filtration

Chemical treament and biocides

1 Clorination

2 Chloride dioxide

3 Advanced oxidation

4 Residual control (sulphite/bisulphate)

5 Peraclean Ocean

P

1

2

3

concentration of at least 2mg a litre is used.Ozone gas, which is bubbled through the

water, is eff ective at killing micro-organisms. It produces a bromate by-product and requires an ozonate generator.

Chlorine dioxide is eff ective, particularly in high-turbidity waters. It has a half-life of six to 12 hours, but, according to suppliers, can be safely discharged within 24 hours.

Physical disinfectionWhen ultraviolet irradiation is used, amalgam

lamps surrounded by quartz sleeves produce UV light, which changes the molecular structure of the organism and thereby prevents it from reproducing.

The deoxygenation method relies on reducing the pressure of oxygen in the space above the water by injecting an inert gas or inducing a vacuum. The removal of oxygen may also lead to a reduction in corrosion.

If heat is employed to treat the ballast water, the water can be used to provide engine cooling while being disinfected.

Photo: iS

tock

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AquaTriCombAalborg/Aquaworx

2 2 3

Working in partnership with Aalborg Industries, of Denmark, Aquaworx from Munich, Germany, has developed the AquaTriComb (ATC) system, which works on a purely physical basis without employing or generating chemical substances. It is one of many systems available that make use of ultraviolet radiation.

Being a modular system (pre-treatment and secondary treatment) it lends itself to both new and retrofi t installations. The system is scaleable and comes in sizes ranging from 250m3/h to 4,000m3/h. Running two systems in parallel operation can increase the fl ow rate to 8,000m3/h.

Micro-organisms and sediment are removed from the ballast water during a pre-treatment phase using fi lters to guarantee optimal disinfection during the secondary treatment phase, which is performed using the eff ects of UV-C radiation and ultrasound.

Ultrasound is used for automatic cleaning of the fi lter modules and to break down particles and micro-organisms, thereby maximising the effi ciency of the UV treatment. The use of ultrasound is said to achieve high and lasting effi ciency in the fi ltration and disinfection processes. The ultrasound also promises extremely eff ective and permanent cleaning of the UV radiators through the removal of biofi lms and depositions.

The design of the system, which has easy-to-follow menu controls, ensures that investment and operation costs, maintenance and total energy consumption (approximately 13kW at 250m³/h) are kept low.

PureBallastAlfa Laval

2 3

One of the fi rst systems to gain approval, it makes use of UV to produce hydroxyl radicals that destroy cell membranes. PureBallast is based on Advanced Oxidation Technology (AOT) developed initially by Wallenius.

The UV lamps that are at the system’s heart are housed in modules each containing 24 lamps. The system is scalable by the addition of extra modules as required. Modularity can help where space is at a premium, as the units need not all be housed in one space.

During ballasting and deballasting, the units create radicals with the help of a catalyst and a light source. These radicals then destroy the cell membrane of micro-organisms. The radicals, which never leave the unit, have a lifetime of only a few milliseconds and pose no risk to the environment or crew.

During ballasting a 50μm fi lter removes larger organisms, leaving only the smallest to be treated. The system also operates when deballasting as a safety measure to kill any organisms that may have survived the initial treatment. In deballasting the fi lter unit is bypassed.

The glass of the lamps is fl ushed using a fruit-acid based compoun, which removes any sediment that could aff ect the performance of the unit. The lamps are replaceable, but the system will operate eff ectively even with several lamps missing.

PureBallast precisely logs starts, stops and other data in accordance with IMO guidelines. In this way, the system makes it easy to act in accordance with the ship’s ballast water management plan.



Systems

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Aquastar Aqua Engineering

2 7

This BWM system has been developed by Aqua Engineering of Busan, South Korea and has been granted basic approval for the active substance used in treatment.

The process involves the use of a so-called ‘smart’ pipe and treatment with the active substance sodium hypochlorite formed by in situ electrolysis of the seawater in a ballast water main pipe.

The compact smart pipe can be installed as the main section of the ballast pipe, which requires the minimum of space.

The AquaStar system consists of an in-line electrolyser unit, the modules of which can be installed horizontally or vertically. The electrolyser is controlled from an integrated automatic control system unit, which has a master and local control unit and incorporates the ballast pump.

Total residual oxidants are neutralised by controlled injection of sodium thiosulphate from a neutralisation unit during deballasting. A rectifi er unit and gas separator with vent is used during the treatment process.

The AquaStar system requires the safe storage of the neutralising agent sodium thiosulphate on board ship in a tank. The risk associated with the generation of hydrogen gas during electrolysis is being taken into consideration during testing.

The system is marketed in a range of models, from the smaller systems suited to chemical tankers, bulkers and box ships, with ballast pumps rated from 350 to 1,100m3/h at a total required power of up to 88kW/h, to slightly bigger systems for Panamaxes and Capesizes, to the biggest models with pumps that handle 5,000m3/h at a power requirement of 300–400kW/h.

AnolyteAtlas-Danmark

2 7

The ballast water treatment system from Atlas-Danmark is named after the disinfecting agent, which is a biocide mixture. It also uses fi ltration, and a reducing agent, known as Catolyte.

Its maker describes the Anolyte disinfection agent applied in the system as “electrochemical activated water”, which contains a mixture of reactive molecules and meta-stable ions and free radicals. The company says the disinfection agent destroys itself during the disinfection process, thereby ensuring that the environment and the crew are not endangered.

The Anolyte is taken from available tanks or those built into the vessel for the storage during the period for production of the disinfection agent. It is injected into the BWTS by a dosing pump that can be located anywhere between the Anolyte storage tank and the ballast water intake connection.

The electrolytic cells used in the ballast water treatment system act as the Catolyte reducing agent. During the process, the Catolyte is fed directly to one or more of the ballast tanks. After the Anolyte disinfection, the Catolyte is said to slightly increase the pH value and corrosion resistance in the ballast water tanks.

The ozone and the other compounds in the Anolyte are injected during natural fl ow of the ballast pumps and fi lters. When added to the fi ltered ballast water during the intake, all micro-organisms are reportedly killed within a few seconds.

By using a self-cleaning, pre-fi ltration fi lter of less than 50μm, the Anolyte portion is reported to be substantially reduced, depending on the fi lter size.

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CrystalBallastAuramarine

2 3

The CrystalBallast treatment system from Auramarine is based on a two-step process, with an automatic fi lter to remove sediment and larger organisms followed by an intensive medium-pressure UV unit to disinfect and destroy smaller plankton, bacteria and pathogens. It is a scalable system with versions available with fl ow rates varying from 250m3/h to 3,000m3/h. Systems can be run in parallel operation.

All organisms and particles removed by the fi lter are continuously returned to the sea at the ballasting site. The use of automatic fi ltration enables the treatment dose to be reduced, leading to savings in energy; it also helps reduce the size of the system. The automatic fi lter is bypassed during the deballasting operation.

Ballast water is treated using the complete process during ballast water intake and re-treated during ballast water discharge through the UV reactor only. Re-treatment during discharge is necessary to eliminate possible regrowth of bacteria in ballast tanks due to cross contamination or incomplete intake disinfection.

The CrystalBallast Active Flow Control (AFC) system keeps the fl ow within the overall system’s maximum rated treatment capacity without the need for manual intervention during ballasting or deballasting. The AFC also ensures that there is adequate counter pressure for the fi lter during the cleaning cycles and it controls the ballast water fl ow during the ultraviolet reactor heating periods. The fl ow data is logged in the memory of the ballast water treatment system’s programmable logic controller (PLC) along with the UV treatment information.

BalClorSunrui

2 7

The BalClor BWMS from Sunrui treats ballast water through pre-fi ltration followed by disinfection using sodium hypochlorite solution (an active substance produced by an electrolytic process during ballasting) and neutralisation at deballasting using a sodium thiosulphate solution.

The water is fi ltered by an automatic backwashing fi lter with 50μm screen to remove most marine organisms.

For the disinfection stage, a small side stream of the fi ltered ballast water is delivered to an electrolytic unit to generate a high concentration of oxidants in a mainly sodium hypochlorite solution. The oxidants are then injected back into the main ballast stream to provide eff ective disinfection.

As a very eff ective germicide, the sodium hypochlorite solution can be kept in the ballast water for a time to eff ectively kill the plankton, spores, larvae and pathogens contained in the ballast water.

For the neutralisation stage the total residual oxidant level of the treated ballast water is monitored and kept at 0.1ppm. If it remains above this level, the neutraliser solution, sodium thiosulphate, is added automatically into the ballast pipe at the deballasting stage to counteract residual oxidants instantly. If it is below this level, the treated ballast water is discharged directly.

Blue Seas and Blue WorldEnvirotech

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d

2 7Envirotech’s BlueSeas and BlueWorld also make use of use fi ltration (50μm), seawater electrolysis and sodium thiosulphate neutralisation treatment upon uptake.

Its maker claims the system is energy-



012_037_BW1204.indd 15 21/03/2012 18:43:11



effi cient and compact. With a smaller onboard footprint and lower energy consumption, the BWMS is expected to appeal to shipowners that need to discharge high volumes of ballast water in a short period of time using a compact system.

Gas Lift DiffusionColdharbour Marine

g

2 6

Designed primarily for tankers, UK-based Coldharbour Marine’s system operates with ‘in-tank’ rather than in-line components. There are no mechanical fi lters to block or backfl ush, no additional seawater valves and no complex electrical systems. Untreated water is drawn into a diff usion pipe from the base of the ballast tank, while inert gas is pumped into a gas lift diff user that strips oxygen, lowers pH and kills aerobic and anaerobic organisms and e-coli through hypercapnia and ultrasonics.

The Coldharbour BWT system uses the gas output from the Coldharbour Sea Guardian marine inert gas generator (IGG), which is linked to specially designed gas lift diff usion (GLD) pipe assemblies mounted inside the ship’s ballast tanks. GLD technology has no moving parts.

Sea Guardian is designed to generate ultra-clean, very-low-oxygen inert gas. It is compact and largely maintenance-free. During the voyage, the output from the IGG is pumped by standard marine compressors to the GLD units in the ballast tanks where the full treatment takes place.

The GLD units use natural fl uid dynamics to both stir the ballast tanks and infuse the inert gas. The company says the system is able to cope with any depth of ballast within the tank, and any silt or sediments that may enter the ballast tank do not aff ect GLD operation. It is also equally eff ective in freshwater.

Blue Ocean Shield COSCO

1 2 3

Blue Ocean Shield (BOS) is a modularised ballast water treatment system, designed and developed by China Ocean Shipping Company (COSCO) Shipbuilding together with Tsinghua University.

The BOS system can run in diff erent confi gurations depending on the level of treatment required and the particular properties of the ballast water, by employing fi ltration and UV and introducing a hydrocyclone if required.

The system operates in-line during the uptake and discharge of ballast water. Before UV treatment takes place, a fi lter system reduces the sediment load of the ballast water, in addition to removing some micro-organisms. The fi ltration system is installed on the discharge side of the ballast water pumps and is fully automatic in terms of its cleaning operation. The UV unit employs high-output, low-pressure ultraviolet (LPUV) lamps to destroy living micro-organisms present in the ballast water.

Ballast water is treated at intake and again at discharge. The treatment on intake ensures that a minimal amount of viable organisms enter the ballast water tanks and reduces sediment build-up in the tank. The water is treated again at discharge only by the UV system to ensure that the potential regrowth of organisms in the ballast water tanks is decreased as much as possible.

Ocean GuardDesmi

.ossibibibibibiibiiiibiiii le..ch aaaaaas popp

2 3 8The Ocean Guard system from Desmi consists of three units.

First, a fi ltration unit removes particles, zooplankton and large algae, and comes in

012_037_BW1204.indd 16 21/03/2012 18:43:14



sizes ranging from 40m3/h to 5,400m3/h. For the basic BWTS 300-P30 system confi guration, where space is a limiting factor, a pressurised fi lter is fi tted with a mesh, of pore size 30μm, which removes particles in order to secure the effi ciency of the succeeding disinfection step.

In the second step, water fl ows through the UV unit and is thereby exposed to a high dose of UV-C irradiation from low-pressure UV-lamps to inactivate organisms smaller than 30μm. The UV lamp units generate photolytic inactivating light and photochemical ozone generating light. Each unit is capable of treating 100m³ of ballast water per hour.

The UV unit also generates ozone, which is used in the third step of the treatment process, in which the water passes a venturi injector. The vacuum created by the venturi injector sucks dry compressed air through the ozone generating components via a pipeline to the injector for mixing into the main ballast water stream. Finally, the treated water is directed to the ballast tanks.

The system is controlled via a touch screen and mimic pictures which provide an overview of the system. Ocean Guard automatically logs all events, alarms, and so forth.

The system has a capacity of treating 300m3/h, but it can be scaled up to process at least 3,000m3/h in total.

ESEcochlor

2 2

The ballast water treatment system from Ecochlor of Maynard, Massachusetts, uses chlorine dioxide (ClO2) technology.

The BWMS from the US-based manufacturer uses fi ltration followed by the injection of a chlorine dioxide solution. The ClO2 solution is created by chemical reaction from mixing precise amounts of purate, which

is a powder formed of sodium chlorate, with hydrogen peroxide and sulphuric acid supplied by chemical pumps.

The ClO2 is drawn into a venturi by the vacuum created by the fl ow of freshwater or seawater. The fi lters must be located close to the ballast water pumps, but the module for the generation of this solution can be located at a convenient place on board.

Ecochlor is reportedly concentrating on the bigger vessels and fl ow rates. The system is said to be able to treat from 1,000 to 10,000 tonnes of ballast water per hour.

Type approval was granted to the Ecochlor system at the North Sea Ballast Water Conference at Europort 2011 on 8 November 2011 by the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH) of Germany.

Ecochlor has been accepted into the US Coast Guard’s STEP programme.

Erma First ESKEngineering Solutions

2 1 7

Developed by Greece-based Erma First ESK Engineering Solutions, the Erma First BWTS is described as a robust integrated system with low energy consumption and a small footprint. It consists of individual modules each with a treatment capacity of 100m³/h. Treatment is in two stages.

First, suspended materials and larger organisms are removed by means of pre-fi ltration and an advanced cyclonic separator. Then, during ballasting, electrolysis is used to generate active chlorine. Here, residual oxidants disinfect any harmful organisms that may have been taken on board.

The levels of chlorine are controlled so that even in waters where suspended sediment is high, the effi cient cyclonic units ensure low chlorine demand for the disinfection of the

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micro-organisms. In addition, the electrolysis cell’s special coating ensures suffi cient chlorine concentration.

During deballasting, residual chlorine is neutralised by the addition of sodium bisulphite solution. Great emphasis has been placed on monitoring and control to ensure proper operation and eff ective neutralisation of treated ballast water prior to discharge to sea. The control unit logs the status of the system, operation, electrolytic cell, self-cleaning fi lter and cyclonic separator.

BallastMaster GEA Westfalia

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2 7Its maker maintains that the BallastMaster system requires low amounts of energy and has a neutral eff ect on the environment.

BallastMaster operates in three stages. First, during the fi ltration phase, ballast water is taken on board and passed through a back-fl ush cartridge fi lter that removes particles larger than 40μm at up to 1,000m3/h. In the second stage, disinfection, an active substance is added directly into the pipe leading to the ballast tank.

An oxidate created on board using electrolysis is used as a disinfectant. This is produced from a simple sodium chloride solution, consisting of common salt and freshwater, and is added to the ballast water that has been taken on board.

The oxidate breaks down into its original ingredients when exposed to ultraviolet radiation, which makes the substance inactive. Any possible after-eff ect of the processing is counteracted in the third stage, neutralisation. As the ballast water is discharged, a sulphur-based neutralisation agent is added, if required, to reduce the total residual oxidants (TRO) content to below the level of 0.2ppm specifi ed by the IMO.

An important point is that the system works with low energy and operating costs. The installation of a plant with a capacity of 500m3/h is said to require an electrical current of less than 8kW, most of which appears to be required for the electrolysis of the disinfectant.

SEDNAHamann

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2 1The SEDNA system developed in Germany by Hamann was one of the fi rst systems to be given full approval in 2008.

Physical separation is in two stages: a hydrocyclone followed by a compact, self-cleaning fi lter with 50μm meshes. The cleaning of the fi lter is triggered by the diff erential pressure. During backfl ushing the fi lter elements are cleaned one by one with seawater without addition of any cleaning substances. When backfl ushing the ballast water operation continues at a slightly reduced fl ow rate.

The system can be adapted to diff erent ballast water pump capacities, ranging in size from 200m3/h to 1,000m3/h for individual installations. Ballast water pump capacities in excess of 1,000m3/h are said to be possible.

In addition to physical treatment, the system makes use of Peraclean Ocean (a chemical substance developed by Evonik-Degussa). This substance has created problems for the system because although it performs as expected under most circumstances, at extremely low sea temperatures and in freshwater it does not degrade and so can remain active in the environment.

The fully approved ballast water treatment system was withdrawn from the market after concerns were expressed that the active substance it uses could remain toxic after discharge. Under pressure from the German authorities, further tests were carried out

012_037_BW1204.indd 18 21/03/2012 18:43:17



The Aquarius system from Hamworthy and Hanovia employs fi ltration followed by disinfection using ultraviolet light

on the product towards the end of 2009 and the results persuaded Hamann that it should withdraw it.

The existing patents of the SEDNA system will be maintained and Hamann has indicated it will further develop the system in time.

Aquarius Hamworthy/Hanovia

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2 3The Aquarius-UV system follows a two-stage process with fi ltration followed by disinfection using ultraviolet light, and so does not use any active substance. Because there is no detrimental eff ect on water quality, ballast water can be safely discharged from the ballast tank at any time. In addition, to ensure maximum disinfection, ultraviolet treatment is utilised during the discharge

cycle, as well as during ballasting.In developing the Aquarius-UV system,

Hamworthy has formed a strategic partnership with UK-based Hanovia, a specialist in UV system design and manufacturing. Hamworthy has assumed overall responsibility for performance compliance against the required regulatory standards, with the UV system being an essential component to integrate with Hamworthy’s ballast water management solution.

Hamworthy is also marketing its Aquarius-EC Ballast Water System, which similarly employs a two-stage approach, but in this case disinfection uses an active substance, generated using side-stream

electro-chlorination. Hamworthy is collaborating with

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Magneto Special Anodes for the development of advanced electrolysis technology. Upon de-ballasting, the system neutralises any remaining active substance using sodium bisulphite, ensuring that the ballast water can be safely discharged back to the sea.

The Aquarius systems achieve fi ltration using automatic backwashing screen fi lter technology. The fi lter is designed specifi cally for ballast water applications and fi lters particulates down to 40μm. Operation of the fi lter includes automatic backwashing to ensure effi cient removal of particles that are discharged back to the environment of origin; the systems are PLC-controlled with user-friendly touchscreen operation. All relevant data is stored by the programmable logic controller in line with IMO requirements and the system can be fully integrated into the main control system to achieve complete ballast water management on board ship.

ClearBallast Hitachi

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1 2The ClearBallast ballast water purifi cation system was developed jointly by Japanese industrial giants Hitachi Plant Technologies and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. It uses coagulation technology to remove plankton and organisms, and magnetic separation equipment to remove algae.

The coagulation method diff ers from sterilisation techniques, in that it does not use chlorine, UV rays or disinfectants, thus removing the possibility of secondary contamination by residual chlorine.

Seawater taken in is treated by adding a coagulant and magnetic powder in coagulation and fl occulation tanks. Agitation of the water causes plankton, viruses and mud to coagulate into 1mm-wide magnetic fl ocs. These can then be collected with

magnetic discs in a magnetic separator. Treated water is fi ltered through a fi lter

separator and injected into the ballast tanks. The coagulation of micro-organisms into small fl ocs enables the use of coarse fi lters, which is claimed to result in high-speed treatment.

The fl exible design is suitable for a wide range of capacities and can be modelled to fi t the space available. Mud accumulation is said to be greatly reduced, thereby prolonging the life of the coating of the ballast tank.

Guardian Hyde Marine

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2 3Destruction of micro-organisms by US-based Hyde Marine’s Guardian is achieved using medium-pressure UV, with a separation unit consisting of a stacked disc fi lter with automatic backfl ushing. This can be complemented by a Hyde Mud Remover dosing unit, which contains a liquid cationic polymer that is considered to be non-hazardous and non-toxic.

The system works on the principle of fl occulation, attracting mud particles into fl ocs, which do not pack down in the ballast tanks as natural sediment does and which are easily fl ushed away during deballasting.

The polymer is injected into the ballast piping during ballasting from a tank of between 250 and 500 litres capacity depending on the size of the ship. The injection systems can be supplied in automatic or semi-automatic versions. The Hyde Guardian system is of modular design and the two main units – the fi lter and the UV treatment chamber – can be installed separately or as a skid-mounted system.

A control panel controls the system’s two main components and the booster pumps and valves. During ballasting, the ballast water passes through the fi lter and UV

012_037_BW1204.indd 20 21/03/2012 18:43:24



system and then back to the main ballast pipeline. During deballasting, the fi lter is bypassed and only the UV treatment is used to kill any remaining organisms.

The stacked disc fi lter unit can store large amounts of solids. These are removed by means of automatic backfl ushing, which keeps the fi lters clean while still allowing a continuous fl ow.

Type Approved models are available for ballast fl ow rates from 60m3/h to 6,000m3/h for vessels of various types and sizes.

EcoBallast Hyundai HI

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2 3By not using or producing any kind of chemicals, the EcoBallast system developed by Hyundai HI causes no secondary environmental contamination. This system treats ballast water at uptake, which is advantageous because it reduces sediment built-up and the potential for survival and growth of organisms, and again at discharge.

The modular BWTS, which has undergone full-scale testing at 200m3/h, comprises a 50μm fi lter with automatic backfl ushing; one or more helix UV reactors that can accommodate higher fl ow rates more effi ciently, a high-intensity, medium-pressure ultraviolet lamp and a control and cleaning unit (fl ow meter and alarms).

Although no chemical compounds are used or added to disinfect the ballast water, the eff ects of UV irradiation are categorised as the active substance.

The system is operated by means of a programmable logic controller installed in a control panel. The fi lter substantially reduces the sediment load in the ballast water. The ultraviolet reactor was specially designed for the ballast water treatment application to maximise the effi ciency of the system.

HiBallast Hyundai HI

2 7

The HiBallast system from Hyundai HI is described as producing a high concentration of the disinfectant, sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), by feeding a portion of the ballast water to an electrolyser module. The disinfectant is directly injected into the ballast pipe during ballasting. A reducing agent is injected into the deballasting pipe to remove any remaining oxidant from the hypochlorite concentration which could possibly have an unwanted eff ect on the marine environment when discharged without neutralisation.

Filtration is optional and installation of a 50μm fi lter improves the effi ciency of the electrolysis unit. A side-eff ect of the electro-chemical production of chlorine is the generation of hydrogen. Because the gas is highly explosive, it needs to be properly vented. Accordingly, a specially devised vent system is employed which uses a water eductor that discharges the generated gas overboard with discharged ballast water.

Because the electrolyser and piping are exposed to the generated high concentrations of oxidative disinfectant, comprehensive long-term, land-based corrosion tests are required. The possible leakages of high concentration of disinfectant require adherence to an emergency procedures to prevent human exposure.

BallastAce JFE Engineering

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BallastAce from JFE Engineering of Japan is a ballast water treatment system that uses fi ltration, chlorination and cavitation.

During ballast water uptake, water is pumped into a fi lter where large plankton are

012_037_BW1204.indd 21 21/03/2012 18:43:26



removed and, at a certain pressure, backwash is discharged. Water is oxidised by means of an active substance, TG Ballastcleaner (developed by the Toagosei Group), in a dosing unit.

Then, a Venturi-tube cavitation unit destroys plankton and bacteria before passing the water into the ship’s ballast tanks.

During the discharge of ballast water, ballast pumps direct the water past another dosing unit containing the active ingredient TG Environmentalguard, which reduces residual chlorine before the water reaches the sea.

MicroFade Kuraray

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2In the MicroFade BWTS from Kuraray micro-organisms are removed during the front-end process through high-precision fi ltration. Suffi cient amounts are fi ltered out in the fi rst stage to make it possible to eff ect a substantial reduction in the amount of active substances in the second-stage chemical treatment, during the post process.

While ballasting is taking place, seawater is drawn into the system and passed through a fi ltration unit. The unwanted organisms are removed by the fi lters and discharged overboard, as fi ltered seawater proceeds through the system.

Active substances are automatically injected into fi ltered ballast water by a chemical infusion unit. The disinfected seawater, infused with the active substance, passes to the ballast water tank.

During the deballasting process the levels of residual chloride concentration are measured and neutralisers are added automatically as required. A neutralising agent is infused when the chlorine level is too high. The treated ballast water is then discharged overboard.

An energy-saving operation is achieved

by means of Kuraray’s special fi lters with low-pressure requirements, which enables the MicroFade system to use existing power generators and ballast pumps. The compact design of the system’s primary components (fi ltration unit and chemical infusion unit) allows for space to be conserved.

As it requires neither precise temperature control nor a large-sized tank, the system also helps reduce power consumption and conserve space. These savings derive from the utilisation of solid chemical agents that can be stored at room temperature.

En-Ballast Kwang San

2 7

The En-Ballast BWMS from Kwang San, based in Busan, South Korea, combines three modules for fi ltration, electrolytic disinfection and neutralisation.

The fi ltration module consists of a 50μm fi lter element with an automatic backfl ushing function, removing the larger particles and organisms from the seawater. It is fully automatic in terms of its operation and cleaning without interrupting the fi ltration process. Backfl ushed water is returned into the sea in situ. This fi lter operates only during ballasting.

The removal of larger organisms and particles by fi ltration reduces the amount of sodium hypochlorite required for disinfection. The electrolysis module generates sodium hypochlorite directly from seawater without the addition or mixing of other chemicals, before the water enters the ballast tanks.

This module comes in various models with diff erent capacities, ranging from the En-ballast-500, which works at a rate of 500m3/h at a power of 35kW to the En-ballast-5000 which processes at 5,000m3/h at 260kW.

During the deballasting process, total

012_037_BW1204.indd 22 21/03/2012 18:43:27



residual oxidants in the water coming from the ballast tanks are neutralised by sodium thiosulphate, which is injected from the neutralisation module.

The system is compact, can be designed as a skid-type version and straightforward to confi gure and install in a limited space.

Ocean ProtectionMahle

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2 3The Ocean Protection System (OPS) is a modular product that makes use of fi ltration and ultraviolet.

The two-phase pre-treatment fi ltration system is described by the company as low maintenance and confi gurable for diff erent fl ow volumes from 250m3/h up to 2,000m3/h. It can be operated either as a compact, container-housed unit or can be adapted to suit the vessel’s design and layout making use of available space. The fi ltration stages have automatic self-cleaning.

The fi rst fi ltration phase uses the pressure diff erential of around 1.2bar induced in the ballast water stream by means of a disc attached to a pneumatic cylinder. This forces any coarse sediment and organisms to the outer edges of the fl ow, where they are removed by means of a fl ush valve.

The cleaned water is then redirected to the second stage of the fi ltration system . In this the smaller particles are removed using a 50μm fi lter element, which is regularly backfl ushed to keep it clean.

The ballast water passes to a low-pressure UV radiation unit where the DNA of any remaining organisms is destroyed. The UV light is mostly in the 254-nanometre range. Treated ballast water passes back and forth between the ultraviolet radiation unit and the ballast tanks before being passed out of the OPS system.

BAWAC Maritime Assembly Systems

3

Germany-based Maritime Assembly Systems followed the G8 process with its BAWAC system. Land-based testing took place in a testing station in Singapore. The prototype 500m3/h BAWAC used seven fl uid-cooled, metal steam UV lamps.

A helix structure around the lamps ensures the water remains in the UV treatment area for longer than in straight-pass systems, distributes the light evenly. It also provides vibration damping for the quartz components.

The seven burners are composed of three components. First, there is the high-performance, long-life burner itself, which has low energy consumption. The burner is surrounded by quartz glass, which supplies it with cooling fl uid. The rotating helix component distributes the light. It is driven by ballast water, providing indirect cooling of the burner and mechanical damping of the quartz glass body. Wiper blades in the helix are pressed against the quartz glass cylinder hydraulically as water passes through the BAWAC, cleaning the system.

MH Systems

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3California-based MH Systems uses a combination of two treatment systems, deoxygenation and carbonation.

An inert gas generator (IGG) is at the heart of the BWTS from MH Systems. The inert gas – which consists of 84% nitrogen, 12-14% CO2 and around 2% oxygen – is bubbled through the ballast water by means of a row of diff users with downward-pointing nozzles placed at the bottom of the tank.

IGGs infuse the ballast water with inert gas bubbles until it attains a state of hypoxia, with a pH of nearly 5.5. The gas infusion

012_037_BW1204.indd 23 21/03/2012 18:43:28



Table 3: Current approval status of ballast water treatment systems

Manufacturer and system name Active substance Substance approved Type approved Website

Alfa Laval (Pureballast) Yes fi nal 27/06/08 www.alfalaval.com

Aalborg/Aquaworx (AquaTriComb) No n/a No www.aquaworx.de

Aqua Engineering (Aquastar) Yes fi nal No www.aquaeng.kr/eng

Atlas-Danmark (Anolyte) Yes No No www.atlas-danmark.com

Auramarine (Crystal) Yes No No www.auramarine.com

BalClor (formerly Sunrui BWMS) Yes fi nal 28/01/11 www.sunrui.net

Envirotech (BlueSeas) Yes basic No

Envirotech (BlueWorld) Yes basic No

Coldharbour Marine No n/a No www.coldharbourmarine.com

COSCO (Blue Ocean Shield) No fi nal 16/02/11 www.cosco.com.cn

DESMI (Ocean Guard) Yes basic No www.desmioceanguard.com

Ecochlor Yes fi nal 8/11/11 www.ecochlor.com

Erma First ESK Engineering Solutions Yes fi nal No www.ermafi rst.com

GEA Westfalia (BallastMaster) Yes basic No www.westfalia-separator.com

Hamann (SEDNA)1 Yes fi nal 10/06/08 www.hamannag.com

Hamworthy (Aquarius) Yes basic No www.hamworthy.com

Hitachi (ClearBallast) Yes fi nal 05/03/10 www.hitachi-pt.com

Hyde Marine (Hyde Guardian) No n/a 30/04/09 www.hydemarine.com

Hyundai HI (EcoBallast) Yes fi nal No english.hhi.co.kr

Hyundai HI (HiBallast) Yes fi nal 15/07/11 english.hhi.co.kr

JFE Engineering (BallastAce) Yes fi nal 25/03/11 www.jfe-eng.co.jp

Kuraray (MicroFade) Yes fi nal No www.kuraray.co.jp/en/

Kwang San (En-Ballast) Yes basic No www.kwangsan.com

Mahle NFV (Ocean Protection) No n/a 29/04/11 www.mahle.com

Maritime Assembly Systems (BAWAC) No n/a No www.mas-wismar.com/en/

012_037_BW1204.indd 24 21/03/2012 18:43:30



Current approval status of ballast water treatment systems (continued)

Manufacturer and system name Active substance Substance approved Type approved Website

MH Systems No n/a No www.mhsystemscorp.com

Mitsui Engineering/MOL/MOL Marine Consulting (FineBallast)

Yes fi nal No www.mitsui.co.jp/en/

NEI Treatment Systems No n/a 11/10/08 www.nei-marine.com

Nutech O3/NK Co (BlueBallast) Yes fi nal 31/10/09 www.nutech-o3.com

OceanSaver Mark I Yes fi nal 15/04/09 www.oceansaver.com

OceanSaver Mark II Yes fi nal 3/01/2012 www.oceansaver.com

OptiMarin (OBS) No n/a 12/11/09 www.optimarin.com

Panasia (GloEn-Patrol) Yes fi nal 4/12/09 www.pan-asia.co.kr

Peraclean Ocean (Sky-System) Yes basic No

Qingdao Headway (OceanGuard) Yes fi nal No www.headwaytech.com

RBT/Wilhelmsen Technical Solutions (Unitor)2

Yes fi nal 31/08/10 www.wilhelmsen.com

RWO (CleanBallast) Yes fi nal 01/09/10 www.rwo.de

Samsung HI (Neo-Purimar) Yes fi nal No

Severn Trent de Nora (BalPure) Yes fi nal 15/07/11 www.severntrentservices.com

Siemens (SiCURE) Yes fi nal No www.water.siemens.com

(Mitsui) Special Pipe Hybrid – Ozone Yes fi nal No www.mitsui.com.jp/en/

Techcross (Electro-Cleen System) Yes fi nal 31/12/08 www.techcross.com

(Samsung HI) Techwin Eco (Purimar) Yes fi nal 15/07/11 www.digitalvessel.com

Wärtsilä/Trojan Technologies Aquafi ne (TrojanUVLogic)

No n/a No www.trojanuv.com

Wuxi Brightsky Electronic (BSKY) n/a fi nal 28/03/11

21st Century (ARA Ballast, formerly Blue Ocean Guardian BWMS)

Yes fi nal 16/02/11 www.21csb.com/ www.samkunok.com

Notes1 Hamman has suspended production of the SEDNA system.2 Wilhelmsen Technical Solutions has withdrawn the Unitor system from the market.

012_037_BW1204.indd 25 21/03/2012 18:43:30



is controlled by remote automated control system of valves, which can permit the tanks to be treated sequentially or all at once.

Sensors detect the amount of dissolved oxygen in the ballast water and the pH level of each tank, and relay the information to a central control station.

This inert gas has all the ingredients necessary to combine the two treatments of hypoxia and carbonation at what is claimed as a very reasonable cost, as analysis has shown that given the fl ow rates and control time for hypoxia carbonated conditions, the gas needs only a short contact time to be eff ective.

Fine BallastMitsui Engineering/MOL/MOL Marine Consulting

8

The system employs the synergistic eff ect of chemical treatment by the oxidation power of the active ingredient ozone and physical treatment using a specially designed pipe placed in the ballast water piping lines.

The organisms are killed off once only, at the time the ballast water tanks are fi lled. The system extracts the required amount of ozone from the air. As the right amount is produced, MOL maintains there is no requirement for a chemical agent for ozone supply or storage.

Micro bubbles of ozone are injected into the system, which achieves high effi ciency levels for absorption and contact against the plankton and bacteria. Harmful substances remaining in ballast water are extracted by activated charcoal, which has no impact on the environment.

The system was audited according to G8 guidelines. Certifi cation involved a full-scale land-based test of the system carried out by Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding and other participant companies together with an

onboard test on the MOL-operated container vessel MOL Express.

The system acquired the fi nal approval under G9 guidelines at the end of September 2010.

VOSNEI Treatment Systems

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6 5Venturi oxygen stripping (VOS) methodology and an inert gas generator (IGG) are employed in NEI’s system. The very-low-oxygen inert gas is educed into unfi ltered infl uent ballast by means of venturi injectors.

When exposed to the low-oxygen gas, dissolved oxygen in the ballast water is stripped out of solution, leaving the ballast water deoxygenated and eff ectively sterilised. When deballasting, ballast tanks are fi lled with inert gas to maintain them as a low-oxygen environment. This actively reduces corrosion and coating breakdown in the ballast tanks.

The VOS system can be installed aboard any type of vessel. For a 1,000m3/h system, the system has a footprint of approximately 4m2, while a 4,500m3/h system has a footprint of approximately 10m2. It does not require fi lters or chemical addition and can handle very large fl ow rates without large power usage – <45kW for a 1,000m3/h system and <150kW for a 4,500m3/h system.

All installations can place the inert gas generator in a convenient location and pipe the inert gas to the venturi injectors in the ballast line, making the system very fl exible and suitable for both small and large vessels.

Vessels with ballast pumps mounted forward of the engine room can use inert gas piped forward to the ballast line and treat without fi ltration. There is no apparent need for high-voltage equipment in front of the bulkhead or to pump ballast back to the engine room and forward again.

012_037_BW1204.indd 26 21/03/2012 18:43:31


BlueBallast Nutech O3/NK Co

8

The BlueBallast system from Arlington, Virginia-based Nutech O3 injects ozone into a ship’s ballast water, as it is taken on-board the ship. In seawater, the ozone will kill approximately half the invasive species on contact. The ozone also interacts with chemicals that naturally occur in seawater to create various bromine compounds that kill the remaining invasive species.

Ozone, as a gas, is not stored on the vessel but is made by taking ambient air and stripping out the nitrogen, cooling it, thereby concentrating the oxygen. It is then hit with a 10kV charge of electricity which converts 10% of the concentrated oxygen into ozone. The ozone is immediately injected into the ballast water intake pipe as the water is taken on board.

Once it is injected into the ballast water, the ozone reverts to oxygen within just fi ve seconds. Before it reverts to oxygen, however, the ozone converts bromine, which occurs naturally in

seawater, into hypobromous acid.Trace quantities of bromine compounds,

known as total residual oxidants (TRO) prove to regulatory authorities that the ballast water has been properly treated. Testing for TRO is a straightforward process that can be handled by most crew members.

To avoid any possibility of accidental damage, the oxygen storage tank is located in a protected space. As an extra safety precaution, the system’s pipes are fl ushed with ambient air each time the system is shut down.

Mark I and II OceanSaver

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2 5 6Treatment of ballast water in Norwegian supplier OceanSaver’s system is carried out by means of cavitation and nitrogen super-saturation. This is combined with fi ltration and disinfection. The low level of dissolved oxygen resulting from nitrogen injection prevents potential regrowth during the


Mark II OceanSaver is now ready

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012_037_BW1204.indd 27 21/03/2012 18:43:33



voyage and also reduces the risk of corrosion in the tanks.

On 3 January 2012, DNV granted type approval to the Mark II model of OceanSaver, which is a tailored version of the already type approved Mark I model, but with the most ‘energy demanding’ features of the Mark I model removed. The Mark II model introduces better-performing fi ltration technology and reduces piping installation, which saves both time and money.

Previously focusing mostly on the larger-sized vessel segment, OceanSaver is positioning Mark II as a cost-eff ective solution for the medium-range vessel market, thus expanding its client base.

OceanSaver’s focus is not only on procurement costs, but on Mark II’s entire lifecycle costs, including spare parts, energy consumption and manpower. The energy required for the complete system and related equipment is 50% less for Mark II compared with Mark I.

OBSOptiMarin

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2 3

The Optimarin Ballast System (OBS) is based on fi ltration as pre-treatment and high doses of ultraviolet irradiation for inactivation of marine organisms.

The OBS does not use or generate chemicals or biocides in its treatment or cleaning processes. Ballast water is treated both during ballasting and deballasting to ensure the dual UV eff ect. Ballast water is fi ltered only during ballasting.

The system is normally installed as close as possible to the ballast pumps. The modular system is fl exible, with a relatively small footprint and weight, and will fi t vessels of diff erent kinds and sizes. The OBS can be delivered as a complete skid or as a customised

solution. It accommodates a wide range of ballast water capacities and can handle fl ows up to 3,000m3/h (or higher upon request).

The MicroKill UV chamber has one UV lamp, with a fl ow rate of 167m3/h, which can be installed in parallel on a single manifold for higher fl ows.

The chamber is specifi cally developed and manufactured for installation aboard ships. It is self-cleaning, with no moving parts or need for chemical cleaning. There is a UV and temperature sensor in each chamber.

Optimarin off ers two 40μm fi lters: BSF MicroKill basket type and B&K MicroKill candle type, both of which have automatic backfl ushing and are self-cleaning.

GloEn-Patrol Panasia

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A 100% physical treatment technology has been adopted by Panasia of South Korea for its BWMS GloEn-Patrol, which eliminates harmful aquatic organisms and pathogens in water without generating any toxic

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012_037_BW1204.indd 28 21/03/2012 18:43:38



substances during ballasting and deballasting. The system combines fi lter and UV units,

employs backfl ushing and is cleaned by automatic wiping. The fi lter unit maximises the disinfection eff ect of the UV unit by improving transmittance of UV light. The fi lter not only eliminates organisms larger than 50μm, but also minimises sediment in the ballast tanks.

Water enters through the inlet pipe into the fi lter area and fl ows through the cylindrical fi lter element from inside out. The fi ltration cake accumulating on the element surface causes a pressure diff erential to develop across the fi lter element. When this pressure diff erence reaches a pre-set value, or after a pre-determined time lapse, the backfl ushing mechanism kicks in. Backfl ushing takes 10–30 seconds. During the backfl ushing cycle the fi ltered water is not interrupted and continues to fl ow downstream of the fi lter.

Contaminated water is exposed to UV light. A real-time process control system activates and deactivates lamps to maintain the UV dosage while conserving power. This is controlled and monitored by means of a programmable logic controller (PLC) and touchscreen.

Sky-System Peraclean Ocean

5

The Sky-System ballast water management system consists of treatment with the Peraclean Ocean preparation, which contains the active substances peracetic acid and hydrogen peroxide, which are stored in double-walled tanks.

The concentrations of the active substances are monitored and, if necessary, neutralised with sodium sulphite (Na2SO3) and water before the ballast water is discharged. The

neutraliser is contained in epoxy-coated tanks.Temperature and leakage sensors,

temperature control unit, ventilators and sprinklers in the chemical storage room are used to prevent the temperature from exceeding 35ºC.

During land-based tests using the concentration of active substance that is applied in actual operation, no corrosion was observed. Corrosive infl uences were reported to be acceptable on the ballast tank coatings and uncoated materials.

OceanGuard Qingdao Headway

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2 7 8

OceanGuard has been developed by Headway Technology from Qingdao, together with the Engineering department of Harbin University in China.

An Advanced Oxidation Process (AOP) is used to manage the treatment, in which short-lived hydroxyl radicals are produced. Because of their highly reactive effi ciency in chained mode and eff ect of the oxidative breakdown, the radicals perform broad spectrum sterilisation, killing off the various forms of bacteria, virus, algae and dormant ovum that appear in the ballast water. The organisms are transformed to simpler organic molecules that are eventually mineralised to CO2, H2O and trace inorganic salt.

OceanGuard has three main components. The control unit contains the procedures for system operation. It has system diagrams and sensor displays and is used for monitoring and regulating data readings and dealing with any alarm signals.

A fully automatic 50μm backfl ush fi lter, which can accomplish automatic backfl ush and fi ltering at the same time, prevents large organisms from entering the ballast tank to reduce sedimentation.

012_037_BW1204.indd 30 21/03/2012 18:43:46



An EUT (electrolysis enhanced by ultrasonic treatment) unit consists of two parts: an electro-catalysis unit to produce the oxidising substances and an ultrasonic unit that produces high-intensity waves that kill bacteria.

Unitor RBT/Wilhelmsen Technical Solutions

5 8 2

Originally developed by South African company Resource Ballast Technologies (RBT), the type-approved Unitor BWTS was marketed by Wilhelmsen of Norway.

The inline system uses mechanical cavitation, disinfectants (produced within the system) and physical separation (by means of a 40μm screen) to treat ballast water on intake only.

Active substances, in the form of ozone and sodium hypochlorite, are added to facilitate cavitation. The cavitated bubbles implode, which produces a shock wave that kills the targeted organisms.

In late February this year the system was withdrawn from sale and the Wilhelmsen Technical Solutions issued a statement saying it has completed a comprehensive performance verifi cation program for the Unitor Ballast Water Treatment System. As a result of the evaluation that followed, the company reached the decision to withdraw the current design of the Unitor BWTS from the market.

“We acknowledge the potential impact for our customers and others aff ected by this decision. However, in keeping with our commitment to compliance, quality and customer satisfaction, we believe this is the only prudent course of action,” said Petter Traaholt, president of Wilhelmsen Technical Solutions.

“The verifi cation program showed that the system at this stage of development will not, in our opinion, provide our customers with an eff ective, fully compliant solution for the varied and dynamic water conditions encountered by a vessel engaged in global trade,” said Traaholt. In addition Traaholt notes that the licensor of the technology placed itself under Business Rescue (the South African equivalent of US Chapter 11 Bankruptcy) in February 2012

CleanBallast RWO

2 7

The CleanBallast system is designed to be operated in-line using ballast water disk fi lters for particle removal and the EctoSys electrolysis disinfection process during ballast water uptake.

As the fi rst treatment step, Bremen-based RWO has designed a proprietary ballast water disc fi lter that achieves a high fl ow rate with a small footprint. The fi lters are specially designed to deliver excellent performance for heavy-duty operation in harbours with high sediment load, where most ballasting operations take place. The second treatment step is RWO’s proprietary EctoSys electrolysis disinfection system, which disinfects all global water qualities inline, without the need for consumables or additional power generation systems.

The fi nal step of the process is an RWO-designed algae monitor that scans and controls the effl uent quality of the discharged ballast water. While the ship is on a voyage, a regrowth of organisms in the ballast water tank is possible. Because the IMO standard has to be met at ship discharge, the ballast water is sent through the EctoSys process a second time, as the algae monitor guarantees compliance with regulations.

012_037_BW1204.indd 31 21/03/2012 18:43:48



RWO recently acquired a means of cutting out the time-consuming work and expense of surveying, and acquiring an exact digital reproduction of the space conditions on board ship, accurate to the millimetre.

When surveying the location in which the CleanBallast system is to be installed, a high-speed 360° scanner is used to create a three-dimensional image of the ship’s engine room, which allows the most advantageous options for the installation to be ascertained.

Neo-Purimar Samsung HI

2 7

The Neo-Purimar system from Samsung Heavy Industries treats ballast on the uptake and discharge in a two-stage system. A 50μm self-cleaning fi lter removes particles, sediments and organisms during ballast uptake before being disinfected by electrolysis-based chlorination.

To minimise the use of the chlorine compound NaOCl, sodium hypochlorite solution generated from the electrolysis unit is injected to maintain a maximum chlorine concentration of 10mg per litre total residual oxidants. Water being deballasted is treated by additional disinfection – the sodium hypochlorite solution generated from the electrolysis unit is re-injected – and by neutralisation, by means of a sodium thiosulfate solution.

Hydrogen gas, a by-product of the electrochemical process, is separated immediately upon exiting from the electrolytic cell by cyclone separation and is not allowed to enter into the ballast water piping. The gas is then transmitted to a de-gassing tank, which dilutes the gas to 1% (well below the 4% lower explosive limit) before exhausting to atmosphere.

BalPure Severn Trent de Nora

2 7

BalPure, from the US joint venture of Severn Trent Services and Gruppo DeNora, only treats ballast during the uptake on the ballasting operation although a second operation during de-ballasting is done to neutralise and residual oxidants remaining from the treatment stage.Ballast water is fi rst cleared of larger organisms and sediments by a 40μm fi lter. Once fi ltered, a slip stream of 1% of the total water ballast uptake fl ow rate is fed to the BalPure system where a hypochlorite disinfection solution is generated.

The mixture of seawater, disinfection solution and hydrogen gas (a by-product of the electrolytic process) then passes through a cyclone-type degas separator to remove the hydrogen gas. The 1% slip stream, now free of hydrogen, is mixed with the remaining 99% of the main uptake fl ow and used to disinfect the entire volume of ballast water.

The total ballast water fl ow is then transferred to the ballast tanks. A residual disinfectant continues to treat the ballast water during the voyage.

The BalPure system is used only in deballasting operations to neutralise the residual oxidant in the ballast water before discharging it from the ship.

On deballasting, the fi lter is bypassed and all treated ballast water is discharged. Before overboard discharge takes place, an automatic neutralisation process occurs.

A separate, small stream of a neutralisation agent, sodium bisulphite (7.5 litres per 1,000m3), is automatically added at the inlet of the ballast pump and any other discharge systems such as aft peak tank systems.

Seawater is then discharged back to the marine environment.

012_037_BW1204.indd 32 21/03/2012 18:43:49



SiCURE Siemens

2 7The SiCURE ballast water management system from Siemens uses a combination of physical separation and a proprietary, on-demand treatment with biocides, produced in situ from seawater, without the addition of chemicals. The system is based on three phases: fi ltration, electro-chlorination, and demand-regulated control logic.

The main functions of the fi lter in the SiCURE system are to remove or break larger organisms using a 40μm weave wire screen, and to provide reliable, non-stop operation at high sediment loads while minimising backwash fl ow. The biofouling control provided to the fi lter assures its reliable function and minimises maintenance requirements of the system.

For electro-chlorination, SiCURE oxidises and eliminates aquatic invasive species (AIS) with sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl). Sodium hypochlorite has been used for many years to

prevent marine growth in the seawater piping and heat transfer systems of land-based, off shore and shipboard installations.

Potentially the most effi cient method of hypochlorination is the production on demand of sodium hypochlorite in situ, electrolytically, through use of a concentric tube electrode (CTE). This hypochlorination technology is known in the maritime industry as the Chloropac system and is produced by Siemens Water Technologies.

Proprietary control logic of SiCURE monitors the chlorine dose level necessary to provide the

Siemens’ SiCure offers deepsea and offshore ships an environment-friendly solution for ballast water treatment

Pho

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arin

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012_037_BW1204.indd 34 21/03/2012 18:43:53



required effi cacy. Biocide dosing level is variable and depends on ballast water conditions – the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics that, cumulatively, are called chlorine demand.

The SiCURE system treats ballast water only on intake, allowing the system to be sized for ballast water fl ows while discharge can be done with higher fl ow rates. This is suitable for those vessels that use only one pump on intake and two pumps on discharge.

Ozone(Mitsui) Special Pipe Hybrid

5 8

The Special Pipe Hybrid system (Ozone version) from the Japanese shipbuilder Mitsui Engineering is a two-stage system based on cavitation by high shear and ozonation. In the ballasting phase, water is taken into the pre-treatment unit before passing to a unit that injects ozone, which has been generated on board, into the water.

This method of treatment starts with inline pre-treatment to preventing blockage of the disinfecting unit followed by a more complex mechanical treatment via a “special pipe” which is inserted into a section of the normal ballast pipe run and then ends by adding the produced ozone which is considered as an active substance by the IMO. After addition of the ozone to the water, for the treatment to be eff ective it is necessary for the ballast to be stored in the tank for at least 48 hours.

This minimum amount of storage time is needed to allow for the strong oxidising and disinfecting properties of bromate, which is generated from the reaction of ozone and seawater, to become ineff ective. The half-life period of the bromate ion is, on average, around 12 hours.

A discharging unit decomposes the oxidant remaining in the ballast water at the time of discharge. The ozone generator contains multiple electrodes that convert a part of the oxygen in the gas to ozone.

A power supply unit converts the power type from commercial frequency and low voltage to medium frequency and high voltage most suitable to ozone generation.

A gas/liquid separation unit is employed to prevent ozone that does not react from fl owing into the ballast tank.

012_037_BW1204.indd 35 21/03/2012 18:43:55



Electro-Cleen Techcross

7

The Electro-Cleen System (ECS) from Techcross employs electrolysis within the ballast pipeline, to cause an active substance, sodium hypochlorite, and hydroxyl radicals to break down the cell membrane and disinfect the ballast water.

The hypochlorite solution is a strong, sustainable disinfectant that destroys the cell nucleus, while the radicals are active only for nanoseconds.

Seawater passes through an Electro-Chamber Unit (ECU) placed after the ballast pump, and the disinfectants generated by electrolysis process disinfect the harmful micro-organisms.

The company maintains ECS is the most eff ective BWTS using electrolysis technology.

Various models of the ECS are supplied: ECS-150B, ECS-300B, ECS-450B, ECS-600B and ECS-1000B. Explosion-proof versions are available, which are denoted by an ‘Ex-’ prefi x, for example, Ex-ECS-150B.

The system diff ers from a typical electro chlorination system, as the treatment process provides electrochemical generation of the biocide solution on board and a high concentration of the hypochlorite solution is injected directly into the ballast pipe line.

When using electrolysis, the ECS applies electric currents. In the direct disinfection mechanism, the electric potential creates holes in the cell walls, causing them to expand and break, thereby destroying the cell membrane of the micro-organisms. In addition, the OH-radical generated during the electrolysis procedure by titanium electrodes also disinfects micro-organisms.

Through electrolysis, suffi cient quantities of total residual oxidants are generated, preventing the regrowth of micro-organisms

and maintaining effi cacy of the process. Residual chlorine also prohibits the regrowth of the organisms in the ballast tank.

Techwin Eco (Purimar)Samsung HI

tankkkkk.

2 7The Purimar system is described as an effi cient method of seawater electrolysis for safely generating sodium hypochlorite onboard.

At ballasting, the ballast water treatment process performed by the Purimar system comprises the operation of two main units: fi ltration and disinfection. At deballasting, a neutralisation unit decreases the concentration of total residual oxidants before discharge if required.

The BWMS immediately injects the solution directly into the ballast water intake. The Purimar system involves passing a small supply (less than 1% of total ballast fl ow) of seawater from the incoming ballast water line through bipolar electrolytic cells in which the seawater is subjected to low amperage and medium-voltage direct current.

The company says the system has a small footprint, is easy to install, and has low maintenance costs, with no increase to corrosion. Power consumption is predicted to be 26kW for a 600m3/h unit and 224kW for a 6,500m3/h unit.

Purimar was granted type approval on 31 October 2011 by the Korean Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Aff airs.

TrojanUVLogic Wärtsilä/Trojan Technologies Aquafi ne

2 3

In early 2010 Wärtsilä announced its partnership with Elmshorn, Germany-based UV light specialist Aquafi ne, a member of the Trojan Technologies group. Wärtsilä

012_037_BW1204.indd 36 21/03/2012 18:43:57



and Trojan Marinex formally launched their system in October 2010.

The BWT 500i system’s fi ltration unit and ultraviolet lamps providing disinfection are housed in a single 2m3 unit. The system has a compact design, making it easy to install and suitable for most vessels. It off ers low maintenance costs and high throughput. Wärtsilä sees easy installation and a small profi le as crucial for the retrofi t market.

The Wärtsilä BWT 500i treats the ballast water in a two-step process, fi rst by fi ltering out larger organisms and particles, and then by ultraviolet disinfection. The UV irradiation either kills the remaining organisms, or renders them incapable of reproduction. Each unit is capable of treating 500m3/h, and it is possible to install several units in parallel for higher fl ow rates.

The company highlights some of the advantages of the system are the low power consumption, the treatment system does not use chemicals, and there is no impact on ballast water treatment corrosion or coatings.

BSKY Wuxi Brightsky Electronic

cc

atinggggggggs.

cc 2 3The BSKY system from Wuxi Brightsky Electronic of Jiangsu province, China, is modular in structure and uses what it calls Enhanced Physical Treatment, which is a BWTS that employs cyclonic and ultrasonic pre-fi ltration combined with UV irradiation.

On ballast intake, water passes through a hydrocyclone. The ultrasonic pre-fi lter limits the intake of organisms and sediment. The water is treated with UV module, which destroys the micro-organisms.

During the discharge process, the water is treated again so as to eliminate any growth that may have occurred in the ballast tanks. At this stage the hydrocyclone is bypassed.

The company argues that conventional fi ltration systems – those using a 50μm fi lter can experience problems with clogging and often require replacement.

The ultrasonic pre-fi lter prevents regrowth and leads to lower power consumption on ultraviolet treatment.

ARA Ballast (Blue Ocean Guardian) 21st Century

2 3

Formerly known as the Blue Ocean Guardian (BOG) system. During ballasting, the fi ltration module of the ARA Ballast system removes aquatic organisms and particles larger than 50μm. Backfl ushing water, which includes micro-organisms and particles retained by automatic backfl ushing devices, is returned overboard. After fi ltration, aquatic organisms are destroyed by intensive shockwaves produced by a low-voltage plasma module.

Active substances, such as ozone, atomic oxygen, nitric oxide and superoxide radicals are produced during this process. Then, residual organisms and bacteria are disinfected by a medium-pressure ultraviolet (MPUV) module.

The MPUV module uses a wavelength of UV-C (200–280nm) to generate UV rays from a mercury-arc lamp. It is available for automatic cleaning in order to increase the penetration rate of a quartz tube.

During deballasting, while the fi ltration module and the plasma module are bypassed, the MPUV module disinfects the water again in the event that micro-organisms and bacteria regrowth have occurred during the voyage.

Power consumption during a land-based system treating water at a rate of 120m3/h was estimated to be less than 1kW for fi ltration, 20kW for the MPUV module and less than 10kW for the plasma module.

012_037_BW1204.indd 37 21/03/2012 18:43:58



Twenty-three suppliers have gained

type approval for their systems so far,

which therefore can be sold commercially.

The systems include Alfa Laval with its

PureBallast, Hamman with SEDNA (but

with production currently suspended),

Hitachi with ClearBallast, Hyde Marine’s

Guardian, NEI Treatment Systems with

VOS, Nutech 03 with BlueBallast,

OceanSaver (Mark I version) with its

namesake system, OptiMarin with OBS,

RWO with its CleanBallast system,

Techcross with Electro-Cleen, Panasia

with GloEn-Patrol, and Wilhelmsen with

Unitor (at present this has been withdrawn

from the market).

Last year Balclor’s BWTS, COSCO with Blue Ocean Shield, JFE with BallastAce, Mahle with its Ocean Protection System, 21st Century with ARA Ballast and Wuxi Brightsky with its BSKY system were also type approved. Hyundai HI with HiBallast, Samsung HI with its Purimar system and Severn Trent de Nora with Balpure were approved in July 2011. The Ecochlor system received type approval at Europort in November last year from the German national authority, Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH).

Oceansaver’s Mark II system was approved in January 2012. More than 45 systems are in development, and there is no lack of newcomers ready to join the movement.

When implementing a ballast water treatment system a great deal of planning is essential and searching questions should be asked before choosing a system for a particular vessel or fl eet. These considerations are intended to streamline the compliance process and cut down on costs.

In a newbuilding, the shipowner has the

opportunity to choose the treatment system best suited to the vessel type and size, to its service or trade route, and to the owner’s operational preferences. The system can be designed in from the start, whereas in a retrofi t choices may be constrained by existing onboard systems and the space available.

Owners, particularly those with multiple vessel types in their fl eet, would be well advised to consider their options sooner rather than later and investigate costs, including bulk purchases. The other aspect of being well prepared is planning for installation during a scheduled drydocking when trained technicians will be available.

Compliance with the BWM Convention and regulationsAll ships must nominate an offi cer responsible for ballast water management and because every voyage is diff erent, a vessel must have a ballast water management plan (in English, French or Spanish) that enables a unique procedure to be specifi ed for each voyage, based on the weight and volume of cargo and fuel.

The BWM plan provides requisite information to port state control as the ship approaches its territorial waters, in accordance with IMO regulation B1. It should be agreed between the master and the company’s head offi ce, and contain ship’s particulars, drawings of the vessel’s ballast system, diagrams of ballast water sampling points, operations of the onboard BWMS, and procedures for sediment control and disposal. The plan defi nes reporting procedures and operational and safety procedures, and it also contains details of the required training for the crew.

All ballast water-related activities are

Implementing a system

038_039_BW1204.indd 38 21/03/2012 18:45:24



recorded in a ballast water record book.When ballast water is exchanged, 95% of

the vessel’s ballast water is replaced with water farther out in the oceans, 200nm from the coast and at least 200m deep, as the bio-organisms cannot survive this far from land. Exchanging water at sea can be dangerous and introduce excessive stresses and forces that can cause a vessel to become unstable and even capsize. BWE was intended to be phased out by 2016 once ships were equipped with treatment systems.

Coatings of ballast water tanks must withstand 15 years without deterioration, which is a requirement of the International Association of Classifi cation Societies (IACS) common structural rules and is inherent in the SOLAS Performance Standards for Protective Coatings (PSPC).

System specifi cationThe main considerations are ballast capacity and pumping rate, water treatment method, size of system and space available, servicing and costs.

The ballast capacity and pumping rate are dependent on the ship type and size. The International Chamber of Shipping has pointed out that there are fewer systems available that are suitable for ships with ballast capacity larger than 5,000m3. Although multiple systems can be installed, this increases energy costs.

The ballast capacity of most vessels is roughly one-third of their deadweight, so a 115,000dwt Aframax has tanks holding 40,000m3 of ballast water and a VLCC or VLOC up to 100,000m3.

Most ballast systems have a pump capacity that enables total ballast capacity to be emptied or fi lled in about 10 hours. As pre-treatment fi ltration features in many systems the owner should consider the time lost in the

backfl ushing cycle for cleaning the fi lter.The degree of pressure loss is dependent on

the maximum operational pressure of existing ballast pumps, the design of the ballast head and the location of the installation. Systems tend to create a pressure loss of between 0.5bar and 2bar, for which the ballast-water pump will have to compensate.

Concerning the volume of ballast water treated per hour, optimum pumping rates need to be established, in order to turn round the vessel quickly and not confl ict with the speed at which the cargo empties or tidal levels rise.

A lot depends on vessel size. Systems can satisfy vessel size by working units in parallel to match the desired fl ow. Plenty of ships require pumping rates of no more than 2,000m3/h, which some BWTS suppliers believe is the optimum size to aim at.

Certain makers have yet to gain suffi cient experience of handling the largest ship types. A VLCC might require a pump rate of 6,000m3/h, which could prove challenging to some manufacturers.

When implementing the system, the potential purchaser needs to consider the system size and space available, not only for the equipment, but also piping and possibly upgraded or additional pumps. The degree of modularity in the system is an important factor in making the best use of available space. Space is also needed for maintenance access and for storage of consumables.

Operating costs (energy, consumables, crew time, maintenance and servicing) all should be factored into the capital cost of the equipment and its installation.

The availability of maintenance, servicing and consumables are considerations that are as signifi cant as their cost. The eff ects of the system on ballast tank coatings and as a contributor to corrosion in the ballast tank and pipes should also be taken into account.

038_039_BW1204.indd 39 21/03/2012 18:45:25



With so many systems either fully

approved or expected to be approved

shortly, there is increasing pressure for

the mandatory installation programme

to begin without further delay. There are

likely to be benefi ts for operators willing

to consider installation ahead of any

mandatory deadlines, as there could be a

price advantage if manufacturers offer

incentives for early orders to recoup

some of their R&D costs. Another factor

is the ability of shipyards to

accommodate the rush to install

equipment when the retrofi t deadlines hit.

The choice of supplier is something that will need careful consideration bearing in mind that the system chosen is likely to be in use throughout the working life of the ship. The sheer number of ships that will come under the BWM Convention will include tens of thousands of existing vessels needing retrofi ts.

However, once this bonanza has passed, manufacturers will only have the spares and service aftermarket and an average of around a thousand new ships per year to provide an income. The newbuilding market from 2016 onward is surely not suffi cient to support all of the systems now on the market or being developed.

When contemplating the implementation of a BWTS an operator needs to look at various practicalities – primarily that the system will guarantee full compliance with the BWM Convention (once fully ratifi ed) and also that it will fi t within the space available on board.

A lot of companies have employed the ideas learned from experience in wastewater

treatment systems. An eff ective system should also both

reduce the energy needed to haul sediment build-up and increase the ship’s cargo-carrying capacity.

The design of the ballast system pipe layout needs to be borne in mind, as well. Some systems make use of components that can be placed at various locations around the ship. For those systems that use active substances to treat micro-organisms, suffi cient stocks of those substances will have to be carried on board to satisfy the number of units installed and the frequency and quantity of ballast operations.

Many systems use the eff ect of UV on water, or the properties of seawater to react to electric currents, to generate the active substance on board, which means that there is no need to hold stocks of an active substance on board.

Another important aspect is the low operating pressure of an ultraviolet disinfection system, which saves costs in retrofi ts by allowing existing pumps to be employed and thereby often eliminating the need for reconstruction.

Maintenance and inspections are essential for all systems. Abrasive sediment must not be allowed to build up and aff ect ballast tank coatings. Lamps and fi lters will need to be replaced and some form of pre-fi ltration is often desirable.

Closely linked to maintenance is the level of training needed to ensure the system is operated correctly. Although most systems feature a high level of automation, others will require more manual intervention especially if active substances are involved.

Practicalities

040_041_BW1204.indd 40 21/03/2012 18:47:14



Questions to be askedSystem supplierIs the supplier an established organisation that can demonstrate marine water treatment experience?Is it likely that long-term maintenance contracts will be honoured?Will spare parts still be available if the manufacturer ceases trading?

System statusDoes the system make use of an active substance?If so, has the substance been approved?Is the system type-approved?Can the manufacturer supply from stock or only to special order?

Active substancesIs the active substance an additive?If so, is it readily available?Does it present any health risk to crew?Is there a risk that the active substance will aff ect ballast tank coatings? (For this to be established it may be necessary to discuss the matter with the coating manufacturer or require tests to be carried out.)

Cost considerationsWhat will be the capital outlay per vessel?How much will the system cost to install?How long will it take to install?Is a fl eet discount available?What are the system’s running costs?What is the electrical power consumption of the system (min/max)?Replacement/additional fi lters/pumps?Maintenance and spare parts costs?Level of cost savings from less sediment and reduced damage to tank coatings?

Layout considerationsHow much space is available for installation?What are the installed system’s dimensions?Piping and cabling requirements?Is it a modular system?Can the system be installed either vertically or horizontally?Space needed to store active substances?

System suitabilityIs the system designed, and tested, for prevailing realistic harbour conditions?Can the treatment process speed match the vessel’s ballasting requirements?For scalable systems, how many will be required to match vessel requirements?If an active substance is used, will it be aff ected by salinity or temperature at ports in the vessel’s normal area of operations?For vessels whose trading pattern involves short voyages, will the treatment process be completed in time for the next port call?If a retrofi t, are existing pumps suffi cient?

Operation and maintenanceWhat level of training is needed by the crew?Is the system fully automatic or is crew intervention required during operation?Where substances must be added, is the dosing system fail-safe?How frequently do lamps or fi lters need to be changed?If a UV system, does the lamps’ warm-up

time aff ect the ship’s ballast regime?What percentage of lamps must

be operational for the system to be eff ective?Can off -the-shelf parts be used?

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040_041_BW1204.indd 41 21/03/2012 18:47:15


IHS Fairplay Solutions Guide to Ballast Water Treatment Systems Sponsored by IHS Fairplay Solutions Guide to Ballast Water Treatment Systems Sponsored by

The potential for an element

used in a treatment system to

cause a problem if discharged

is one of the greatest concerns

for environmentalists. For this

reason, any system using an

active substance is tested

rigorously before receiving fi rst

basic and then fi nal approval.

The experience of this sup-

plier and its testing body may

prompt much tighter examina-

tion on both sides.

Confusion has dogged the

use of ultraviolet (UV) light in

ballast water systems, with

some administrations treating

its use as an active substance

while others maintain that the

short-term changes to water

chemistry resulting from its

use should not require any

specifi c approval. Many of the

systems seeking G9 approval

make use of UV treatment and

most have been granted basic

or fi nal approval, but UV treat-

ment is still being debated.

In 2010, Aquaworx, which

has developed the low-

pressure UV system in a joint

venture with Danish company

Aalborg Industries, switched

from the G9 to G8 approval

route after the German authori-

ties decided that there was no

active substance involved.

Aquaworx insists that the

AquaTriComb system does not

make use of any chemicals

but works instead using a

combination of fi ltration, UV

and ultrasound to remove and

destroy organisms.

The Hyde Guardian is

another system that uses UV

and which earlier followed the

G8 process; it was fully type-

approved in April 2009. Some

systems-makers may decide to

follow suit and switch routes,

but a number of others have

decided to continue on down

the G9 path.

To help vessel operators

meet the IMO’s impending bal-

last water discharge require-

ments, UV disinfection special-

ist Hanovia, together with two

other specialist companies,

Panasia Engineering and Hyde

Marine, has developed onboard

ballast water treatment

systems that the company says

are easy to install and use.

Environmental damage

caused by alien species

transported in ballast water is

regarded as one of the greatest

threats to the oceans of the

world, the company notes.

To help operators deal with

the problem, Hanovia and its

partners have devised a UV

disinfection system that, in

conjunction with a fi lter, is said

to kill or remove virtually all the

micro-organisms that may be

present in ballast water.

The system combines

a high-intensity, medium-

pressure UV disinfection unit

with an automatic backfl ush

fi lter. After passing through

the fi lter to remove the larger

organisms, the ballast water

fl ows into the UV chamber

for the destruction of smaller

organisms. During deballast-

ing, the water bypasses the

fi lter but again fl ows through

the UV chamber, where further

irradiation kills any remaining

micro-organisms.

The system needs little

space and can be mounted at

any angle – which is par-

ticularly useful in the confi ned

spaces of a vessel’s equipment

room, Hanovia notes. “Once

installed, the system requires

little effort to operate by the

crew,” the company added.

The ultraviolet unit is

equipped with automatic wip-

ers to keep the UV lamps clean.

The only maintenance that the

crew needs to conduct is to

replace the lamps once a year

and to undertake occasional

preventative work.

UV irradiation causes confusion

Photo: iS

tock

042_043_BW1204.indd 42 21/03/2012 18:49:53



Ballast water sampling and analysis

procedures and the implementation

protocol for port state control (PSC) were

re-examined and planned to be fi nalised

at MEPC 63, which was held from 27

February to 2 March. Two sets of draft

guidance were submitted to the IMO

Sub-Committee on Bulk Liquids and

Gases (BLG).

One draft covered guidance on sampling and the other off ered advice on PSC issues. The result was a split between a group including the large fl ag states – including Panama and the Bahamas – and an EU-led group.

The ICS has highlighted the chaotic state of ballast water treatment rules after the IMO BLG Sub-Committee agreed to alterations in the draft ballast water sampling and analysis guidelines that will be used by PSC.

This might be damaging to shipowners were it to be adopted by IMO contrary to what had previously been agreed by the MEPC. Accordingly, the ICS issued a strong statement at the end of the BLG meeting in January about the direction that had been taken. Now, with the support of many fl ag states, the draft guidelines will be reconsidered.

This means, however, that the guidelines associated with sampling and analysis will not be approved until 2013 at the earliest, which is expected to delay the additional ratifi cations needed to bring the IMO Ballast Water Management Convention into force. The delay creates other problems for shipowners, because of the fi xed dates by which existing ships have to install the potentially expensive treatment equipment required by the convention.

Sampling

Effect of BWT on coatingsA potential consequence of ballast water treatment – at least for those systems that make use of an

active substance – is the potential for damage to be caused to the wider ballast system. Coatings suppli-

ers have expressed concern about the effect of treated water on paint and the risk of corrosion of ballast

water tanks.

The confl ict has arisen because the paint, as the last layer on, is traditionally considered account-

able for the effect on the tank and the water it holds. Coating manufacturers argue that BWT systems

appeared after coatings were developed, so the onus is on the system-makers to test their products

against existing coatings. With no offi cial regulatory decision, the dispute rumbles on, but it is something

that owners selecting either a tank coating or a ballast water treatment system should consider before

coming to a fi nal decision.

One of the main elements of a ballast system is its piping. Seawater is highly corrosive and pipes often

need repair or replacement. Some new suppliers are promoting the advantages of composites over steel

and there do appear to be more benefi ts than downsides to the idea. Claimed advantages include light-

ness, absence of corrosion and their potential for use in repairing damage to existing steel systems.

and port state control

042_043_BW1204.indd 43 21/03/2012 18:49:56



When RWO began developing a ballast

water treatment system back in 2003,

the clear goals set were to achieve a

system that fulfi lled IMO regulations and

was economical in investment and

operation, but at same time was suitable

to work in real-life conditions and able to

fulfi l future regulations.

Robustness, easy operation and maintenance, and being suitable for both newbuildings and retrofi ttings, were other points to be achieved by the BWTS. After several years of research and development and comparison of various sediment removal and disinfection technologies, the Bremen-based marine water treatment company believes it has achieved all these key criteria with its CleanBallast system. First orders for the two-stage CleanBallast system were received at the end of 2007 – to equip 20 newbuild vessels.

RWO’s CleanBallast system consists of a two-stage process, starting with mechanical fi ltration by Disk Filters followed by the advanced electrochemical disinfection EctoSys. The fi ltration process is carried out only during ballast water uptake, whereas

disinfection is applied both when ballasting and during ballast discharge. This is to remove any organisms that either are already present in tanks or that may regrow in the ballast tanks during a ship’s voyage.

The modular fi ltration stage, that can be arranged horizontally, vertically and even as a stacked system, removes particles that are >55μm and allows minimal use of active

substances at the disinfection stage. The CleanBallast system ensures minimum power consumption and is able to operate eff ectively in all kinds

of water, regardless of its salinity or turbidity.

An additional, optional feature of the CleanBallast system that is available is the Algae Monitor.

This unit continuously checks the quality of the ballast water by measuring the numbers of viable phytoplankton that are present. It also

further minimises the already very low power consumption to produce disinfectants.

The Disk Filters consist of a series of individual thin, grooved plastic discs stacked on to several spines; micro-organisms and particles are caught in the grooves and on the outside surface of the discs. Back-fl ushing of the fi lters is automatically triggered when a pre-defi ned

CleanBallast

Treatment system of choice –

The EctoSys module is at the heart of the RWO CleanBallast system

Photo R

WO

044_045_BW1204.indd 44 21/03/2012 18:51:04



diff erential pressure is reached, or after a pre-determined time interval. There is no fl ow interruption during the backfl ushing and the process takes only a few seconds.

The electrodes used in the EctoSys module have special chemical and electrochemical properties that cause the formation of hydroxyl (OH) radicals. These OH radicals are highly reactive and react almost as soon as they are formed. Consequently they are very short-lived and cause no problem with total residual oxidant checks.

Diff erent salinities of ballast water produce diff erent active substances. In waters of low salinity, the highly reactive OH radicals are the only active substance produced, while in brackish or seawater small volumes of other disinfecting substances are also produced as by-products, which act alongside the reactive OH radicals.

In contrast to conventional chlorine electrolysis the EctoSys, disinfection is independent of the presence of salts in the water to produce OH radicals. Furthermore, the performance of the system is also not infl uenced by sediments, turbidity or the colour of the water.

CleanBallast was tested in river water with TSS counts of much higher concentrations than the IMO test water requirements. Thus CleanBallast treats ballast water successfully under worse than IMO reference conditions.

Its modular construction makes CleanBallast suitable for both retrofi t and newbuild installations, although it can also be supplied as skid-mounted and containerised versions. Further positive aspects of the CleanBallast technology are that it is always available for immediate operation, is designed for a long lifetime, does not need any warm-up time nor does it have a cooling

requirement, being fully automatic, robust and not aff ected by possible vibrations on board.

The RWO system has also been extensively tested by independent bodies confi rming that CleanBallast does not alter the corrosion behaviour of treated ballast water. SWEREA KIMAB and Germanischer Lloyd confi rmed that seawater after treatment with CleanBallast shows no increase in corrosive properties for material and coatings, and GL classifi es CleanBallast as compatible with epoxy-based ballast tank coating systems.

As of the end of February this year, more than 35 CleanBallast units had already been commissioned for successful commercial operation and sea-trialled in the Shanghai Delta and Yangtze River – in terms of water quality probably one of the harshest environments in the world. CleanBallast is thus one of the few BWT systems that can demonstrate substantial experience in commercial application.

Since February RWO has been off ering shipowners an additional and essential service for retrofi ttings. As one of the fi rst ballast water treatment system manufacturers worldwide, RWO recently acquired its own high-speed 360° 3D scanner. RWO can now, in only a short time, create in exact detail three-dimensional images of a ship’s engine room and by this means portray the most advantageous options for installing the CleanBallast system.

The CleanBallast system is one of the very few ballast water treatment systems deemed by the California State Lands Commission report to have demonstrated the potential to comply with the commission’s exacting

performance standards.

Photo R

WO

This high speed 3D scanner captures exact details of the available installation space

044_045_BW1204.indd 45 21/03/2012 18:51:06



Publisher: Jon McGowan

Editor: Malcolm Latarche

email: [email protected]

Sub-editor: Stephen Spark

Reporter: Stephen Valentine

Head of design: Roberto Filistad

Designer: Lynda Hargreaves

Production: Sarah Treacy

Supplement manager: Justin Hyde

Head of advertising sales: Adam Foster

Tel: +44 (0)208 676 2201

email: [email protected]

IHS Fairplay, Sentinel House,

163 Brighton Road, Coulsdon,

Surrey CR5 2YH, UK

Printed by Warners Midlands plc, The Maltings, Manor

Lane, Bourne, Lincolnshire

Copyright © IHS Global Limited, 2012. All rights reserved. No part of this publication

may be reproduced or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,

photocopying, recording or otherwise, or be stored in any retrieval system of any nature,

without prior written permission of IHS Global Limited. Applications for written permission

should be directed to Jon McGowan, [email protected]. Any views or opinions

expressed do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of IHS Global Limited or

its affiliates.

Disclaimer of liability

Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the quality and accuracy of the information

contained in this publication at the time of going to press, IHS Global Limited and its

affiliates assume no responsibility as to the accuracy or completeness of and, to the

extent permitted by law, shall not be liable for any errors or omissions or any loss,

damage or expense incurred by reliance on information or any statement contained in this

publication. Advertisers are solely responsible for the content of the advertising material

which they submit to us and for ensuring that the material complies with applicable

laws. IHS Global Limited and its affiliates are not responsible for any error, omission or

inaccuracy in any advertisement and will not be liable for any damages arising from any

use of products or services or any actions or omissions taken in reliance on information

or any statement contained in advertising material. Inclusion of any advertisement is

not intended to endorse any views expressed, nor products or services offered, nor the

organisations sponsoring the advertisement.

Trade marks

IHS Fairplay is a trade mark of IHS Global Limited.

about RWORWO GmbH, Bremen, is a leading

supplier of systems for water and

wastewater treatment aboard ships and

offshore rigs. The product programme

encompasses the treatment of ballast-,

waste-, drinking- and process-water, as

well as oil water separation. RWO is

already the worldwide market leader in

the treatment of oily waters.

RWO has more than 35 years’ experience in the maritime water and wastewater treatment market and ensures sustainability during the entire lifetime of the systems through its worldwide service network.

Currently, RWO has more than 50 CleanBallast ballast water treatment systems

in its orderbook, and as of the end of February 2012 more than 35 CleanBallast units had already been commissioned for successful commercial operation and sea-trialled in the Shanghai Delta and Yangtze River – in terms of water quality probably one of the harshest environments in the world.

CleanBallast is thus one of the few BWTSs that can demonstrate longer experience in commercial application.

More information email: [email protected] visit: www.rwo.de

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rwo 25412,bwt guide 2012

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