Alfa Laval Compliance Navigator

The last thing shipowners want is a ballast water treatment system that limits their business prospects. Yet many are unaware of the limitations contained in type approval certificates. With Compliance Navigator – a free new online tool – Alfa Laval helps them compare treatment system capabilities with the conditions where they sail.

Compliance Navigator is an easy-to-use tool that makes sense of the parameters in ballast water treatment. In a few short steps, it helps shipowners identify and understand the specific criteria that impact their decision.

“As a leading supplier, we have an obligation to provide knowledge,” says Peter Sahlén, Head of Alfa Laval PureBallast. “With Compliance Navigator, our goal is to simplify decisions for everyone.”

Ensuring freedom to sail as business demands
The most important function of Compliance Navigator is helping shipowners recognize their individual requirements. While there are many type-approved systems, not every system gets vessels where they need to go.

“Every ballast water treatment system has limitations defined in its type approval certificate,” says Sahlén. “However, it’s unclear how those limitations translate into business obstacles. While it’s easy to buy a type-approved system, the numbers on the certificate won’t always ensure compliance in the real world.”

To help evaluate system performance, Compliance Navigator lets shipowners define their vessel and trade route. Working from an interactive map, they choose ports of call – and receive key information associated with each.

“Water salinity, temperature and clarity are the main conditions that limit system performance,” Sahlén explains. “Using reliable, third-party sources and our own test data, we’ve gathered data about those conditions, which Compliance Navigator presents and explains on the given vessel’s route. Shipowners gain a real understanding of their specific challenges and the technologies capable of meeting them.”

Open for easy comparison
Alfa Laval’s own ballast water treatment solution, Alfa Laval PureBallast 3, is presented as part of the tool. For Sahlén, it was an important choice to show the capabilities of PureBallast 3 in relation to each port.

“Transparency has been key for Compliance Navigator throughout its development,” Sahlén says. “Our aim is not only to point out performance criteria, but also to show how systems really live up to them – including our own.”

As a final step in the tool, shipowners can view a proposed PureBallast 3 system, configured for the vessel and the trade route chosen. They can interact with the drawing to get a clearer understanding of the components and technology. Although not a detailed configuration, it provides a strong basis for discussion.

“Compliance Navigator is not a design tool, but rather a knowledge-building tool,” Sahlén emphasizes. “We do inform shipowners about what we offer. But the key knowledge we bring them is a knowledge of their needs – which is essential no matter which supplier they speak with.”

Compliance Navigator is free to use and can be found at: www.pureballast-compliancenavigator.com

To learn more about Alfa Laval PureBallast 3 and Alfa Laval’s approach to ballast water treatment, please visit: www.alfalaval.com/marine