Ballast Water System Retrofits for 11 Containerships

Eleven container vessels owned by Bernhard Schulte GmbH & Co. KG, based in Germany, are to be retrofitted with Wärtsilä Aquarius Ballast Water Management Systems (BWMS), Wärtsilä announced today.

The 11 containerships to be retrofitted range in size from 2,600 to 5,600 TEU and are managed by affiliate Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement through offices in Greece, Hong Kong, India and Singapore. 

Wärtsilä will begin delivering the systems this year, and the retrofits will be completed by 2017.

Dr. Joe Thomas, Director, Ballast Water Management Systems, Wärtsilä Marine Solutions, said the order represents “a clear indication that the major shipowners are actively securing procurement for quality BWMS in anticipation of ratification of the IMO's ballast water treaty.”

Signed in July, the order marks one of the largest single retrofit contracts issued for BWMS solutions, according to the BWMS supplier. Wärtsilä’s agents in Germany, Wilhelm Rump KG, assisted in finalizing the contract.

Bernhard Schulte GmbH & Co, has had BWMS implemented on new buildings delivered since 2012, as well as two pilot retrofits on older tonnage. Taking a proactive course for its operational fleet, the company has 38 of its ships scheduled for BWMS retrofit over the next five years.