Ballast Water Treatment Systems News

FMC Closes One Investigation into Conditions Created by Canadian Ballast Water Regulations

The Federal Maritime Commission is closing one of its two investigations of how Canadian ballast water regulations impact shipping in the Great Lakes, but the remaining investigation will continue to permit the agency to assess if Canadian government policies create unfavorable conditions affecting U.S. flagged vessels operating in the U.S.-Canada trade.The Commission published Notice in the Federal Register that it is closing its Investigation into Conditions Affecting United…

Erma First Acquires Ecochlor

The Erma First Group has completed the acquisition of Ecochlor, broadening its range of ballast water treatment systems (BWTS), future-proof decarbonisation solutions and related services.The acquisition consolidates the company’s status as one of the world’s largest BWTS providers.Ecochlor’s BWTS portfolio comprises a filtration- and ClO2-based system and two versions of the EcoOne™ solution. The first is a filterless system that uses ClO2 alone and consumes just 10–20 kilowatts of power even at very-high flow rates.

Mr. Marine Names Laarhuis CEO

Mr. Marine announced it has appointed Charles Laarhuis as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective October 15. Laarhuis succeeds Karel Peters in leading the global operations of the testing, inspection and certification (TIC)organization.With a robust background in the maritime and oil & gas sectors, Laarhuis brings a wealth of experience to Mr. Marine. After several years at sea as a marine engineer, Laarhuis transitioned to shore-based leadership roles in the TIC and classification fields, overseeing operations across North America, Europe, Africa, and Asia.

Alfa Laval Wins Order for 18 BWMS Replacements

Alfa Laval reports it has received an order to replace 18 ballast water treatment systems (BWMS) onboard vessels belonging to a major European shipowner. Over the past two years, Alfa Laval has replaced more than 250 systems from 30 different manufacturers, and the orderbook for replacement continues to grow.“With the consolidation of the BWMS market, we see a growing need for replacing installed BWMS systems,” said Tobias Doescher, Head of Global Sales, Business Development and Marketing, Alfa Laval PureBallast.

Vessel Ballast Water Management: Getting the Numbers Right

It was never going to be realistic to expect treated ballast water to have zero viable organisms on discharge.The G8 guidelines that define the type approval process for ballast water treatment systems were initially agreed at the IMO before any systems had actually been developed.The IMO had already been working on the issue of invasive species being transferred around the world in ballast water for a couple of decades. It was on the radar back in the 1970s. At MEPC 31 in 1991…

Ballast Water Technology: Getting the Numbers Right

It was never going to be realistic to expect treated ballast water to have zero viable organisms on discharge.The G8 guidelines that define the type approval process for ballast water treatment systems were initially agreed at the IMO before any systems had actually been developed.The IMO had already been working on the issue of invasive species being transferred around the world in ballast water for a couple of decades. It was on the radar back in the 1970s. At MEPC 31 in 1991…

Uptick in Ballast Water Treatment System Inspections Expected

With the final ballast water deadline fast approaching, UV-based water treatment specialist BIO-UV Group said it anticipates an increase in inspections as Port State Control (PSC) inspectors check machinery installations, crew competencies and Ballast Water Management (BWM) Plans.From September this year, all vessels subject to the BWM Convention must have installed a D-2 compliant ballast water treatment system capable of dealing with the maximum number of viable organisms allowed to be discharged.

Bio-Sea Ballast Water Treatment for Siem Car Carrier Trio

BIO-UV Group has received an order from SIEM Ship Management to supply its BIO-SEA Ballast Water Treatment Systems for a trio of SIEM-managed car carriers. The order, for retrofit installation to the Siem Copernicus, Siem Curie and Siem Socrates, is the latest in a series of deliveries of BIO-SEA B-Series equipment for installation onboard around a dozen SIEM Ship Management reefer vessels since 2021.In this latest order, BIO-UV Group’s maritime division will provide B02 BIO-SEA BWTS units with a medium to high flow rate of 300-cu.m.

Optimarin Acquires Hyde Marine Business from De Nora

Optimarin AS, a Norwegian supplier of ballast water treatment systems (BWTS), announced it has agreed to acquire the Hyde Marine UV business from the Italian multinational Industrie De Nora S.p.A.

Performance Shipping Orders Two LR2 Tankers

Greek shipowner Performance Shipping Inc. announced it has signed two shipbuilding contracts with China Shipbuilding Trading Co. Ltd. (CSTC) and Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. (SWS) for the construction of two 114,000 DWT LNG-ready LR2 Aframax product/crude oil tanker vessels.The newbuilds, expected to be delivered in January and April of 2026, were ordered at a purchase price of US$64,845,000 per vessel, net of third-party commission. 15% of the purchase price is payable upon receipt of a refund guarantee…

BIO-UV to Deliver Ballast Water Treatment System for Drillship Pair

BIO-UV Group said Thursday it had received a major order to supply its BIO-SEA ballast water treatment system to a pair of drillships scheduled to enter an undisclosed operator’s offshore drilling rig fleet.According to BIO-UV, a modular version from the BIO-SEA B-Series, combining mechanical  filtration and UV disinfection, has been ordered by a United Arab Emirates-based offshore drilling contractor, a returning customer for BIO-UV Group, and will be installed on the vessels…

BIO-UV Group Answers the Call for Compact BWTS with 'Smallest' UV BWTS Yet

UV-based water treatment specialist BIO-UV Group has introduced what it says is arguably the smallest UV BWTS in the marketplace, targeted at meeting increased demand for ballast water treatment systems from operators of workboats, yachts, research ships, OSVs, and similar-sized vessels. The new BIO-SEA L01-0030 Mini – more compact than the company’s existing low-flow BIO-SEA L range – is a fully automated filtration + UV-based system designed to treat ballast water flow rates…

CMA CGM Settles with US EPA over Alleged Dumping Violations

France-based CMA CGM, the world’s third largest shipping container company, will pay $165,000 in penalties as part of its settlement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) over claims of violations of EPA’s Vessel General Permit issued under the Clean Water Act. “The Vessel General Permit is a key element of the Clean Water Act. When companies and their ships don’t comply with this permit, the quality of our nation’s already-challenged waters can be seriously impacted,” said EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Martha Guzman.

Op/Ed: Technology Manufacturers’ Input More Critical than ever for Effective Maritime Regulations

Next year marks a crucial milestone for the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Ballast Water Management (BWM) Convention, with all ships required to meet the D2 standard for ballast water management by 8 September 2024. D2 specifies the maximum number of viable organisms allowed to be discharged. In most cases, it requires the installation of a ballast water management system (BWMS) on board the vessel.2024 will be a pivotal moment for the ballast water market and while it is true that the retrofit market will diminish and leave behind only a small newbuild market…

Yang Ming Orders Five New Box Ships

Taiwanese container shipping company Yang Ming Marine Transport Corp. announced it has ordered five liquefied natural gas (LNG) dual-fuel containerships from South Korean shipbuilder HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. The 15,500 TEU newbuilds are scheduled to be delivered in 2026. Each will be equipped with high-pressure LNG dual fuel main engines and ballast water treatment systems. In addition, the vessels will feature an advanced integrated system for navigational information and operation monitoring…

EPA Settles Ballast Water Violation Claims

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has settled with two shipping companies over claims of violations of EPA’s Vessel General Permit issued under the Clean Water Act.Under the terms of the settlements, Swire Shipping Pte. Ltd. will pay $137,000 in penalties and MMS Co. Ltd. will pay $200,000 in penalties for claims of ballast water discharge, inspection, monitoring, and reporting violations.The violations relate to Singapore-based Swire Shipping’s vessels, the Papuan Chief and the New Guinea Chief…

Bio-UV Group Reports 31% Increase in Bio-Sea Revenue

BIO-UV Group reported a 31% increase in revenues from its maritime business segment, contributing to full-year consolidated revenues of $56m for the 2022 financial year, confirming the sale of more than 200 BIO-SEA ballast water treatment systems throughout the course of the year."2022 was another year of very strong growth for BIO-UV Group, for both the Land and Marine divisions," said Benoît Gillmann, Founder, Chairman and CEO of BIO-UV Group.“Ultimately, targets were exceeded with $1.6 million more in sales than the $54 million we had anticipated.

Euronav Orders Two Suezmax Tankers from Daehan Shipbuilding

Oil tanker firm Euronav has ordered two Suezmax tankers from South Korea's Daehan Shipbuilding for an undisclosed fee.The vessels will be sister ships to Cedar (2022 -157,310 dwt) and Cypress (2022 – 157,310 dwt), built at the same yard. Both vessels are scheduled for delivery in the third quarter of 2024. "The vessels are the latest generation of eco-Suezmax tankers and are fitted with both Exhaust Gas Scrubber technology and Ballast Water Treatment systems. The vessels have the structural notation to be LNG Ready…

BIO-UV to Supply BWTS for Luxury Ritz Carlton Cruisers

BIO-UV Group informs it has secured a contract to supply its BIO-SEA ballast water treatment systems (BWTS) for a pair of liquefied natural gas (LNG)-fueled super cruisers French shipyard Chantiers de l’Atlantique is building for Marriott International's luxury hotel group Ritz Carlton.When delivered in 2024 and 2025 respectively, the 46,000gt Ilma and Luminara will join the smaller Astander Shipyard-built Evrima – the first ever Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection vessel – which set sail earlier this year.“We are immensely proud to supply BIO-SEA systems to these prestigious vessels…

Optimarin Maintains BWTS Deliveries Amid Supply Chain Challenges

Norwegian ballast water treatment systems manufacturer Optimarin said it has so far been able to overcome global supply chain challenges by leveraging a flexible delivery model for key components for its systems.While the world continues to deal with supply chain issues brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukraine crisis, the company has implemented a dual-supplier strategy that has enabled it to maintain efficient system deliveries even though supply capacity has been strained as demand has rebounded…

Bureau Veritas Grants AiP for GTT's Ballast-free LNG Bunker & Feeder Vessel Concept

French company GTT, best know for the supply of tanks for LNG tankers, said Tuesday its new concept for a ballast-free LNG bunker & feeder vessel called Shear-Water had received  “Shear-Water”, a new approval in principle from Bureau Veritas (BV).The concept has previously won AiPs from China Classification Society and DNV.Describing its concept, GTT said: "The majority of merchant vessels worldwide use ballast water when they are empty or partially loaded in order to maintain seaworthy conditions. Therefore, a considerable quantity of ballast water is carried by ships every day.

BIO-UV Adds FGS as Italian Representative

Ballast water treatment system manufacturer BIO-UV Group announced it has tapped La Spezia-based Fluid Global Solutions (FGS) for the sale and delivery of its BIO-SEA ballast water treatment systems to Italian operators, builders and repairers of all ship types, including offshore and naval vessels.FGS, provider of pumps and spares to the Italian maritime sector, will reinforce existing partners in Italy, namely, Tefin, which focuses on the region’s yacht sector, with its sales agent Gianfranco Catanese.With its partnerships…

Scienco/FAST’s InTank BWTS Contracted for Vallianz Barges

Water treatment systems company Scienco/FAST announced it has secured contracts to supply two of its InTank ballast water treatment systems (BWTS) for offshore services provider Vallianz Holdings. The systems will be installed aboard the project barges Holmen Pacific and Holmen Atlantic.According to the manufacturer, the filterless InTank BWTS was selected because it brings operational flexibility to the semi-submersible vessels, allowing the rapid in-place flood and discharge ballasting to be completed without treatment.The InTank BWTS is filterless and treats ballast during the voyage.