Ballast water treatment systems in ships, also referred to as BWTS in ships, are high on the agenda of every ship owner and operator. Ballast water is used to provide ship stability, reduce stress on the hull and to enhance ship maneuverability. But these benefits come with a serious downside. The multitude of marine species in ballast water causes serious ecological, economic and health problems. The invasive microorganisms spread around the international waters and their damage is often irreversible. Therefore, ballast water in ships must be treated. Obviously, BWTS play a crucial role in the reduction of aquatic environment pollution.
To address this situation, the IMO and the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) adopted a first set of guidelines in 1991. These early international guidelines were the first step towards preventing the spread of invasive species and pathogens in global waters.
Further negotiations between members of the IMO resulted in a new resolution called the BWM Convention (The International Convention for the Control and Management of Ship’s Ballast Water and Sediments). This BWM Convention entered into force in 2017 setting out standards D1, D2, and D3 that define the ballast water treatment rules ships must comply with. At the same time, the BWM Convention breaks down all major barriers for ship owners and operators to take serious action and implement ballast water management soon.
In ships ballast water management is no longer informal. All ships must have a BWTS on board and deadlines underline the urgency. However, selecting the perfect BWTS for your ship can be quite a challenge because there are many factors to consider such as type of vessel and availability of space and funds.
Most BWTS are a combination of multiple treatment stages and methods. First, marine organisms and solid materials are separated or filtered from the ballast water. The collected materials are then either directly discharged in the area of origin or treated further on board the ship before discharging. Second, a chemical disinfectant is used to remove invasive organisms from the ballast water. These so-called biocides must be degradable or removable as well to have the desired effect.
The ballast water treatment methods are fourfold. Two of them are non-chemical and make use of UV, or gas. The electrolysis method typically filters out larger aquatic organisms and dirt. The magnetic treatment method on the other hand uses magnetic powder to fight aquatic and micro-organisms.
Saltwater offers a turn-key solution for the placement of ballast water treatment systems in ships. We assist you in the selection of a ballast water treatment system and offer a complete installation package. With our integrated, full-service solution ships can be made compliant while saving ship owners and operators the trouble of making complex decisions and getting the required approvals on their own.
A futureproof ballast water treatment system starts with Saltwater.
The deadlines for ballast water treatment systems in ships are:
Our specialists wrote a whitepaper on ballast water management and the various options on BWTS.
The whitepaper ‘BWTS Explained’ is available for download on our website.
The expertise of Saltwater in practice
Designing a ballast water treatment system onboard the Prins der Nederlanden and Oranje.
Engineering the conversion and placement of a ballast water treatment system.
Are you facing a challenge?
Our team of professional, multi-disciplined marine engineers is very talented. Every member is equally important and that makes us a tight-knit group. Every week brings new challenges, and every week we work together to meet them.
