Alfa Laval’s PureBallast 3 UV system has IMO revised G8 type approval, and was one of the first to receive it in February 2018, the company says.
It followed tests with marine, brackish and fresh water being completed under the new G8 regime in Q3 2017.
Optimarin and SunRui co-operation
Ballast water companies Optimarin and SunRui announced a “strategic market co-operation” in March 2020.
Optimarin, based in Sandnes, Norway, makes ultra violet ballast water systems. It says it offers the world’s first US Coastguard approved UV system, and the systems are mainly installed on medium and small size vessels.
SunRui Marine Environment Engineering Co Ltd, based in Qingdao, China, offers electrolysis based (electro chlorination) ballast water systems, which, it says, are more suited for medium to large vessels.
Some shipping companies with a range of sized vessels in their fleet may have both systems.
The two companies will now cooperate in the global market, tailoring customized services for different shipowners and vessel types, and going forward consider the possibility of future supply chain and after sales service cooperation.
“By working together we can, for the first time, offer those companies a complete sales and service one stop shop, where all their needs can be met through a single fleet agreement, with the best available technology on the market,” says Optimarin CEO Leiv Kallestad.
“This simplifies procurement and delivers the long-term peace of mind and performance they [shipowners] need.”
Hyde Marine chemical tanker
Hyde Marine’s “Hyde GUARDIAN” UV system was selected by Kurinoura Dock Yard in Japan to be installed on chemical tanker Marex Sara.
The client looking for a system which could handle 350 m3 / hour flow.
Hyde Marine makes systems designed for 300m3 and 450m3 – so there was a choice of constraining to a lower flow rate and using the 300m3 model HG300GX, which was the shipyards initial choice. But this would mean ballast operations taking more time, so owners decided on a 450m3 unit.
All of the system needed to be explosion certified.
The piping system was arranged with the flow through the ultra violet chamber going upwards. This means that any air does not get trapped in the chamber, which can create a potentially dangerous situation.
Techcross patent
Techcross of South Korea entered into a patent transfer agreement with Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. and Hitachi, Ltd. to receive the patent for a ballast water management system (BWMS) installation solution.
The transfer of rights will be completed by the beginning of June 2020 at least as each country finished administrative procedures. The patent is recognized in four major shipbuilding countries including Korea, China, Indonesia and Philippines.
The patent was originally registered in 2011. It covers a ship structure solution enabling the installation of BWMS in appropriate locations regardless of the ship type and ballast water treatment methods used.
The comprehensive installation solution handles the installation location of direct/indirect electrolysis equipment and pipe structures of UV and electrolysis equipment.
The solution is unique because BWMS can be installed near the bridge towards the aft of a ship, allowing effective use of spaces in the ship. As such, ship structures or hull shapes do not need to be largely modified to install BWMS when using this solution. This also means that BWMS can be easily installed on new and existing ships alike, Techcross says.
As of 2020, Techcross holds 115 patents and utility models regarding BWMS, related technologies, and installation solutions.
Techcross says it had 152 million dollars in sales in 2019, which is a 230% growth compared to the previous year. Techcross is continuing its business in 2020 with a goal of doubling the sales figure to 295 million dollars.