Ready for launching: subsidiary Aquaworx enters certification process for AquaTriComb™ballast water treatment system
2008/09/23
Aquaworx Deutschland GmbH surprises the maritime world at the opening of the world's leading shipbuilding and marine technology exhibition SMM in Hamburg
Munich, 23th September 2008 – After years of development and successful completion of preliminary testing, the Munich-based marketing division of Swiss company Aquaworx AG has launched the certification process leading to "Basic Approval" for its ballast water treatment system AquaTriComb™ with the BSH (German Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency). Basic Approval is part of the certification process required by the IMO (International Maritime Organisation, London) to approve ballast water treatment systems in line with the strict regulations for use on board ship, with the objective of preventing the growing "global transport" of organisms and microorganisms into foreign environments. Ships store significant volumes of ballast water in their hulls and transport them around the world, thus distributing the water and its contents.
When water from Singapore, say, is released in the Port of Hamburg, the consequences for local ecosystems are almost impossible to predict. Scientists have warned of the dangers of this "tourism" for years. Now the new global regulations issued by the IMO are aimed at eliminating the problem entirely. In future, all ballast water must be cleaned and filtered in line with rigorous specifications. From 2010 all newly built ships must be fitted with ballast water treatment systems; this directive will be extended to all ships by 2016.
The Aquaworx AquaTriComb™ ballast water treatment system combines two technologies in the new company's area of core competence. MicroSintFilters ™ use membrane/ultrasonic technology to filter water in cross-flow or dead-end mode; water that passes through this treatment can immediately be released into its maritime environment of origin. Bacteria, microorganisms and germs are subsequently treated with the ultra-violet AquaTriLight™ element. With this combination of ultrasonic and UV technology, a system which Aquaworx has used in potable and waste water treatment with proven success, the ballast water treatment system is assembled ready for use in maritime applications under the name of AquaTriComb™.
The system features outstanding efficiency, particularly in the filtration stage, combined with low operating costs and compact design for on-board installation. Thanks to the use of ultrasonic technology the system is "self-cleaning" and thus almost entirely low-maintenance – a further benefit which shipbuilders and owners will appreciate, particularly since the system is priced well below its competitors. A further special feature of the Aquaworx solution is the fact that on release or "deballasting", the water is again passed through the system for cleaning and filtering. This ensures that bacteria and microorganisms in the inaccessible ballast tanks and channels of the ship are effectively eliminated and only clean water is returned to the sea.
Experts are convinced of the system's design and effectiveness; Hamburg scientist Dr. Stephan Gollasch states, "While the market for AquaTriComb™ systems is considered to be vessels with low volumes of ballast water flow, AquaTriComb™ can also be of use for ships with average or even higher flow volumes, particularly large container ships, tankers, bulk goods transporters, cruise liners, RORO transporters and car transporters. …“.
"Although there are already several systems on the market, the Aquaworx technology is unique in that it is designed to clean ballast water without the use of chemicals or deliberate generation of chemical substances“, adds Peter Falk, CEO of Aquaworx Deutschland GmbH.
The AquaTriComb™ system is expected to receive IMO Basic Approval certification in early 2010.
During SMM, Aquaworx representatives can be contacted via the Munich office at +49 (0) 89 20 60 44 560 or info@aquaworx.de
