Alfa Laval received U.S. Coast Guard type [ds_preview]approval for its ballast water treatment system, PureBallast.
The USCG based its type approval on CMFDA/FDA testing conducted at DHI in Denmark. This testing was performed using the same hardware, power consumption and flow as the already market-leading IMO-certified version of the PureBallast 3 family.
Outside the United States, where the technology has been type approved using the MPN method, the USCG-certified system will operate in IMO mode and be able to treat water with UV transmittance as low as 42%, said Alfa Laval.
PureBallast has a flexible construction based on four different UV reactor sizes. This allows for optimized sizing and competitive solutions over a wide flow range. The current type approval covers flows of 150-3000 m3/h based on the 300 and 1000 m3/h reactor sizes, while type approval for systems based on 170 and 600 m3/h reactors is expected soon.
The delay between approvals is due to the evaluation of the mathematically modelled reactor scaling, which is a new process for the USCG. Additional time is needed to review the already completed verification from the independent DNV GL lab.
»With both USCG and IMO type approvals backing up the market’s best biological disinfection performance, ship owners can be truly confident in their choice of PureBallast,« says Anders Lindmark, General Manager, Business Centre PureBallast.
Prepared for IMO G8 guidelines
Besides meeting the demands of the USCG, the PureBallast 3 family is prepared for the revised IMO G8 guidelines determined by the recent MEPC70 meeting. Pending a few final tests of biological efficacy, a completed application for an updated G8 certificate is expected during the first half of 2017.
Likewise, Alfa Laval is prepared for the increased demand triggered by the ratification of the IMO Ballast Water Management Convention. Having sold over 1200 systems to date, including hundreds installed as retrofits, the company has the knowledge, project management and production muscle to handle the coming retrofit wave.
