Wärtsilä’s Aquarius EC (Electro-Chlorination) Ballast Water Management System (BWMS) has been granted IMO Type Approval.

This is in accordance with the requirements of the 2004 IMO Convention for the control and management of ships' ballast water and sediments and is an essential certification pre-requisite for the system to be used on board ships.

Land-Based and Shipboard Trials

The Type Approval was attained in co-operation with the flag administration of the Netherlands, independent testing facilities, and the Lloyd’s Register classification society. Testing and optimisation of the system were carried out during both land-based and shipboard trials conducted in accordance with IMO requirements. Additional testing is planned to ensure full United States Coast Guard (USCG) Type Approval.

Aquarius UV

This is the second Wärtsilä BWMS to have been fully endorsed and type approved by the Flag Administration of the Netherlands. The Aquarius UV BWMS was granted IMO Type Approval in 2012 and USCG Alternate Management System (AMS) acceptance in October 2013.

Electro Chlorination

The time required to complete Type Approval for an electro chlorination (EC) system is longer, as the EC treatment process makes use of an active substance that requires both intermediate Basic and Final approval from IMO GESAMP as pre-requisites to a Type Approval application.

Compliance with the IMO Ballast Water Convention helps protect local eco-systems from the spread of harmful invasive species, while easing operational concerns for ship owners and operators.

Aquarius EC

The Aquarius EC BWMS is based on a two-stage treatment process using proven and validated system components. Upon uptake, seawater is first passed through a back washing screen type filter. The filtered seawater then passes through a static mixer where hypochlorite generated in a side stream electrolysis process is injected and mixed to disinfect the water before entering the ballast tank.

On discharge, water from the ballast tanks is pumped through the static mixer for a second time and residual chlorine (if any) is neutralised prior to discharge. The filter is not used during discharge. The modular approach provides maximum flexibility for system design and installation.

Retrofit

Key components are positioned to suit available space, a major advantage when considering retrofit projects. Retrofit installations can be carried out either during dry docking, at the quayside, or whilst the ship is in operation, thus minimising downtime.