Envirocleanse Applies for BWTS Type Approval
Envirocleanse LLC recently submitted a Letter of Intent to the U.S. Coast Guard and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) indicating that the company will apply for Type Approval of its patented Envirocleanse inTank ballast water treatment system (BWTS).
Envirocleanse, a division of Charter Brokerage, a BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY company, produces a BWTS called inTank, which combines a proprietary membrane technology for the production of the nontoxic, noncorrosive biocide hypochlorous acid (HOCl) with the U.S. Geological Survey patented “nozzle system” for dispersion in the ballast tanks. Seattle based marine consultancy, Glosten, is a strategic partner in this endeavor, holding the patent rights to the nozzle system and providing engineering expertise.
“The inTank BWTS does not require a filter; and enables continual monitoring and control of the residual oxidant levels in each tank during the treatment phase, minimizing corrosion risk and assuring regulatory compliance of ballast water upon arrival in port,” said Kevin Reynolds, Principal, Glosten. “By treating ballast water in transit, the inTank BWTS eliminates critical in port demands on personnel, power and operations.”
Matt Hughes, EVP of Sales and Marketing, Envirocleanse added, “The modular design of the Envirocleanse inTank BWTS allows engineering standardization, and installation flexibility that keeps costs down for both retrofit and new‐build markets. In addition, our proprietary membrane technology provides immediate hydrogen removal for advances in safety and reliability.”
The technology behind Envirocleanse was initially brought to the forefront by Dr. Phil Bellan as a means to fight infection in wounds. Charter Brokerage bought Envirocleanse in late 2015 and has since begun to expand into the oil and gas, medical, food and food distribution, and ballast-water-treatment industries.
Full‐scale shipboard trials were performed earlier in 2016 confirming the system’s efficacy in challenging water environments, the manufacturer said. DNV‐GL is the Independent Lab and Norway is the sponsoring country for IMO approval. Type Approval testing is scheduled to be completed in the third quarter of 2017.
