Wärtsilä’s BWT 500i system is being developed in co-operation with Trojan Technologies to effectively meet the latest and most stringent environmental regulations. It revolutionarily integrates filtration and ultraviolet disinfection techniques into a single unit making this compact and easy to install system a most effective and economical means of treating ballast water.
Wärtsilä has announced the launching of a new and unique ballast water treatment solution, the Wärtsilä BWT 500i, which has been developed together with the company’s technology partner Trojan Marinex, the marine water solution division of Trojan Technologies. The new system has a compact design, making it easy to install and suitable for most vessels. It offers low maintenance costs and high throughput, with outstanding treatment quality. Wärtsilä BWT 500i effectively meets the latest and most stringent environmental regulations for ballast water management. Delivery of the first systems is expected to commence during the second quarter of 2011.
“Easy installation and a small profile are crucial for the retrofit market, and have been central to our design process from the outset,” says Vesa Marttinen, Director of Wärtsilä's Environmental Services unit. “We have done extensive pre-testing and have worked in close co-operation with our customers in order to meet the key requirements. With this product launch, we are confident that the Wärtsilä BWT 500i meets all regulatory and operational criteria very well.”
The Wärtsilä BWT 500i treats the ballast water via a two-step process, first by filtering out larger organisms and particles, and then by ultraviolet disinfection. The UV irradiation either kills the remaining organisms, or renders them incapable of reproduction. Each unit is capable of treating 500 cubic meters ballast water per hour, with the possibility to install several units in parallel for higher flow rates.
“We aim to meet all expectations with a solution that is the most flexible, and which has the lowest risk. By doing this we are providing customers with the confidence that they can meet not only today’s requirements, but those of tomorrow as well,” says Christian Williamson, Vice President, Global Marketing Strategies at Trojan Technologies.
The IMO Global Ballast Water convention is expected to be fully ratified in 2011, and will require existing vessels to install a certified ballast water treatment system before 2014 or 2016, depending on the vessel's ballast water capacity. Already at this early stage, some countries are proposing even stricter guidelines, a situation that was anticipated and incorporated into the design plan for the Wärtsilä ballast water treatment system.
Ballast water is used to stabilize vessels when not fully loaded. Water is taken in when a ship unloads cargo, and released when it is loaded again. Ballast water can also be used for trim and structural integrity purposes. However, the environmental regulations covering this have been tightened due to the fact that when water taken in at one port and discharged at another without prior treatment, it may contain non-indigenous organisms which can be harmful to the discharge area’s ecosystem.
In February this year, Wärtsilä Corporation and Trojan Technologies signed an exclusive agreement to jointly develop, market, and distribute a ballast water treatment product for ships.
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Caption: Wärtsilä BWT 500i, the groundbreaking integrated ballast water treatment from Wärtsilä, combines both filtering and ultraviolet treatment in the same housing.
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Pictures of the launch:
Picture 1
Wärtsilä Ballast Water Treatment Solution. Vesa Marttinen, Director, Special Services.
Picture 2
Wärtsilä BWT 500i, the groundbreaking integrated ballast water treatment from Wärtsilä, combines both filtering and ultraviolet treatment in the same housing.
Picture 3
Wärtsilä Ballast Water Treatment Solution. Vesa Marttinen, Director, Special Services.
Mr Vesa Marttinen
Director, Environmental Services
Wärtsilä Corporation
Tel: +358 10 709 5334
vesa.marttinen@wartsila.com
Mr Tom Nyman
General Manager, Water Solutions
Wärtsilä Corporation
Tel: +46 31 744 46 45
tom.nyman@wartsila.com
Wärtsilä in brief
Wärtsilä is a global leader in complete lifecycle power solutions for the marine and energy markets. By emphasising technological innovation and total efficiency, Wärtsilä maximises the environmental and economic performance of the vessels and power plants of its customers. In 2009, Wärtsilä’s net sales totalled EUR 5.3 billion with more than 18,000 employees. The company has operations in 160 locations in 70 countries around the world. Wärtsilä is listed on the NASDAQ OMX Helsinki, Finland.
www.wartsila.com
About Trojan Technologies
Trojan Technologies designs, manufactures, and sells ultraviolet systems for municipal wastewater and drinking water facilities, as well as for the industrial, commercial and residential markets. The company also provides UV treatment for the removal of chemical contaminants from water. With over 6,500 municipal facilities in more than 80 countries using its technology, Trojan has the largest installed base of UV systems in the world. Headquartered in London, Ontario, Canada, the company also has offices in the U.K., Germany, China, France, Netherlands, Australia, Italy, Spain, and the U.S.
www.trojanuv.com
