Frame agreements have recently been signed by Alfa Laval with two different ship-owners in the Middle East, to supply their PureBallast systems.
The systems will be delivered during a three-year period and retrofitted on tankers and bulk carriers.
The fleet orders were received from a tanker operator in the Middle East and a bulk carrier operator in Europe, who will time the booking of individual orders with the scheduled dry docking of their vessels. Alfa Laval will make the first of its system deliveries to the ship-owners during the latter part of 2017.
‘The Ballast Water Management Convention enters into force on 8 September of this year, and these frame agreements are a clear sign that the ballast water treatment market is moving forward,’ says Kristina Effler, Manager Global Business Management, Alfa Laval PureBallast. ‘Shipowners are beginning to look beyond individual installations towards long-term solutions that will ensure compliance for their entire fleet.’
Large-capacity ballast systems
The framework agreements Alfa Laval cover 45 systems and 8 systems respectively, many of which will handle a significant ballast water flow. The first order includes 22 systems with capacities of 2000 m3/h or 3000 m3/h, while the second order comprises four systems of 1500 m3/h and an additional four of 3000 m3/h.
‘Low power consumption, a small footprint and high installation flexibility make PureBallast competitive for larger flows as well as smaller ones,’ says Effler. ‘Flow rates of up to 3000 m3/h can be handled with a single, easily retrofitted system. The signing of major orders involving so many large PureBallast systems shows that it is attractive across its capacity range.’
