the IHS Ballast Water Guide - RWO Marine Water Technology
the IHS Ballast Water Guide - RWO Marine Water Technology
the IHS Ballast Water Guide - RWO Marine Water Technology
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Sponsored by <strong>IHS</strong> Fairplay Solutions <strong>Guide</strong> to <strong>Ballast</strong> <strong>Water</strong> Treatment Systems<br />
An EUT (electro-catalysis enhanced by<br />
ultrasonic treatment) unit consists of two<br />
parts: an electro-catalysis unit to produce <strong>the</strong><br />
oxidising substances and an ultrasonic unit<br />
that self cleans <strong>the</strong> EUT unit.<br />
Unitor<br />
RBT/Wilhelmsen<br />
Technical<br />
Solutions 5 8 2<br />
Originally developed by South African<br />
company Resource <strong>Ballast</strong> Technologies<br />
(RBT), <strong>the</strong> type-approved Unitor BWTS was<br />
marketed by Wilhelmsen of Norway.<br />
The inline system uses mechanical<br />
cavitation, disinfectants (produced within<br />
<strong>the</strong> system) and physical separation (by<br />
means of a 40µm screen) to treat ballast<br />
water on intake only.<br />
Active substances, in <strong>the</strong> form of ozone and<br />
sodium hypochlorite, are added to facilitate<br />
cavitation. The cavitated bubbles implode,<br />
which produces a shock wave that kills <strong>the</strong><br />
targeted organisms.<br />
In late February this year <strong>the</strong> system was<br />
withdrawn from sale and <strong>the</strong> Wilhelmsen<br />
Technical Solutions issued a statement<br />
saying it has completed a comprehensive<br />
performance verification program for <strong>the</strong><br />
Unitor <strong>Ballast</strong> <strong>Water</strong> Treatment System. As<br />
a result of <strong>the</strong> evaluation that followed, <strong>the</strong><br />
company reached <strong>the</strong> decision to withdraw<br />
<strong>the</strong> current design of <strong>the</strong> Unitor BWTS from<br />
<strong>the</strong> market.<br />
“We acknowledge <strong>the</strong> potential impact<br />
for our customers and o<strong>the</strong>rs affected by<br />
this decision. However, in keeping with our<br />
commitment to compliance, quality and<br />
customer satisfaction, we believe this is <strong>the</strong><br />
only prudent course of action,” said Petter<br />
Traaholt, president of Wilhelmsen Technical<br />
Solutions.<br />
“The verification program showed that<br />
<strong>the</strong> system at this stage of development will<br />
not, in our opinion, provide our customers<br />
with an effective, fully compliant solution<br />
for <strong>the</strong> varied and dynamic water conditions<br />
encountered by a vessel engaged in global<br />
trade,” said Traaholt. In addition Traaholt<br />
notes that <strong>the</strong> licensor of <strong>the</strong> technology<br />
placed itself under Business Rescue (<strong>the</strong><br />
South African equivalent of US Chapter 11<br />
Bankruptcy) in February 2012. .<br />
Clean<strong>Ballast</strong><br />
<strong>RWO</strong><br />
2 7<br />
The Clean<strong>Ballast</strong> system is designed to be<br />
operated in-line using ballast water disk<br />
filters for particle removal and <strong>the</strong> EctoSys<br />
electrolysis disinfection process during ballast<br />
water uptake.<br />
As <strong>the</strong> first treatment step, Bremen-based<br />
<strong>RWO</strong> has designed a proprietary ballast water<br />
disc filter that achieves a high flow rate with<br />
a small footprint. The filters are specially<br />
designed to deliver excellent performance<br />
for heavy-duty operation in harbours with<br />
high sediment load, where most ballasting<br />
operations take place. The second treatment<br />
step is <strong>RWO</strong>’s proprietary EctoSys electrolysis<br />
disinfection system, which disinfects all<br />
global water qualities inline, without <strong>the</strong><br />
need for consumables or additional power<br />
generation systems.<br />
The final step of <strong>the</strong> process is an <strong>RWO</strong>designed<br />
algae monitor that scans and<br />
controls <strong>the</strong> effluent quality of <strong>the</strong> discharged<br />
ballast water. While <strong>the</strong> ship is on a voyage,<br />
a regrowth of organisms in <strong>the</strong> ballast water<br />
tank is possible. Because <strong>the</strong> IMO standard<br />
has to be met at ship discharge, <strong>the</strong> ballast<br />
water is sent through <strong>the</strong> EctoSys process a<br />
second time, as <strong>the</strong> algae monitor guarantees<br />
compliance with regulations.<br />
© <strong>IHS</strong> Global Limited 2012 31<br />
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