CMA CGM, one of the world’s largest container carriers with a fleet of 454 vessels, has contracted France-based Bio-UV Group to supply its Bio-Sea ballast water treatment systems to seventeen containerships.
Nine LNG-fuelled 22,000 TEU leviathans currently under construction for CMA CGM at China’s CSTC Shipyard will each be fitted-out with two 3000 m3/h capacity Bio-Sea B 10-1500 FX units, while eight 9000 TEU capacity Opera-class vessels will be retrofitted with a Bio-Sea B 10-1000 FX unit capable of treating ballast water flow rates of 1000 m3. This marks its first BWMS retrofit contract for an entire ship class.
USCG and IMO Type-approval
The order, which is valued at more than €5 million, is the company’s first Bio-Sea order following the system’s USCG type-approval, awarded on the 21 June 2018. The system was already compliant with IMO requirements.
UV Ballast Water Treatment
The ultraviolet (UV) ballast water treatment system is available as a skid mounted, semi-modular or modular system capable of dealing with flow rates between 10 and 2000 m3/h. To date, it is the only UV system on the market with no limit for freshwater retention, 24 hours in marine water, and 72h days for brackish water.
Bio-Sea is a two stage treatment process, with ballast waters entering a 20 µm filter to flush out any suspended solids and zooplankton. The filtered water then enters a titanium reactor to be put through the ultraviolet disinfection process. The system is also equipped with an automated operating, monitoring and alarm with power regulation.
Picture: A skid-mounted Bio-Sea ballast water treatment plant.
