Hamworthy has received its first order for its Membrane BioReactor (MBR) technology from well-known ferry operator DFDS A/S.
The contract calls for a bespoke advanced wastewater management system to be installed on board Pearl of Scandinavia (shown above), replacing an existing sewage treatment plant that dates back to the vessel’s construction in 1989.
The first stage of the job is scheduled to be undertaken in January 2011 during the vessel’s docking period, comprising the installation of steelwork materials for a new process, permeate and cleaning tanks.
Due to the short dry-dock time, Hamworthy will manufacture the process tank, pump skids and pipework in kit form, to enable it to retrofit through the ship’s existing hatches and doorways. It will then be assembled, welded and pressure-tested during dry-dock under the supervision of Hamworthy engineers. The remaining equipment will be delivered by April 2011.
Hamworthy Project Manager, Julian Nicholas, said that the MBR would be one of the first new generation Hamworthy Mark IV MBR to be delivered, demonstrating the company’s continuing research and development commitment to achieve lower operating costs and less operator intervention.
“This MBR was sized to utilise the existing structure from the old sewage plant, thus minimising disruption and additional work needed by the owner,” he said. “With a bit of ingenuity we have been able to integrate the permeate and cleaning tanks with the process tank, making for a more compact installation and minimising disruption.
“Normally the domain of large cruise ships operating in environmentally sensitive areas, advanced water treatment technologies are finding wider appeal. This order demonstrates the way that more and more operators are turning to environmentally-friendly technology, ahead of regulations that will have an impact across the passenger ship market.”
Of the 63 ships currently operated by DFDS, the Det Norske Veritas-classed Pearl of Scandinavia operates between Oslo and Copenhagen. Rebuilt in 2001, the 178m long ship is one of four passenger ferries owned by the company of similar age and class.
DFDS Communications Manager Gert Jakobsen said that it was his understanding that the project was part of a broader programme to upgrade towards environmentally-friendly technologies. “This is exactly where we need to focus in our investments,” he said.
Based on biological degradation and membrane separation, the Hamworthy MBR process achieves the highest quality discharge without requiring any addition or generation of chemicals hazardous to the maritime or shipboard environment. International standards on wastewater discharge have steadily tightened and will continue to do so over the coming years. Hamworthy’s MBR system continues to develop in anticipation of these regulations.
Since introducing its MBR technology in 2000, Hamworthy has supplied over 100 MBR units to a range of new and existing cruise ships, ferries, offshore rigs, naval ships, and yachts. Some 58 MBR plants are in operation on board 27 cruise ships and a further 19 plants are on order for 10 cruise ships in various stages of installation and commissioning. Having just completed projects for the Pacific Sun and Pacific Jewel, the whole of the Carnival Australia cruise fleet is now fitted with Hamworthy’s MBRs.
Hamworthy has been growing its environmental portfolio and our most recent developments include ballast water management systems to help protect the world’s oceans and exhaust gas cleaning technology for the removal of sulphur from air emissions.
