The InvaSafe ballast water management system (BWMS), manufactured by Damen, has received its world premiere at the harbour of Delfzijl and Eemshaven, The Netherlands.
The premiere was a joint presentation between Damen Shipyards, the designated operator MariFlex and Groningen Shi[ds_preview]pyards, as well as Royal Wagenborg. This was the first time that the InvaSave has been used by a commercial operator. The newly launched »Egbert Wagenborg« was brought alongside a quay and the containerised InvaSave 300 mounted on a barge in front of the bow. Ship-to-ship operator MariFlex then quickly connected the vessel and InvaSave using a convenient standard hose connection. The ballast water was then pumped out of the ship and passed through the InvaSave for treatment before being released into the harbour. The operation was witnessed by representatives from port operators and authorities, ship owners and other maritime organisations.
According to the manufacturer the IMO-approved Damen InvaSave is the world’s first external ballast water treatment unit designed primarily for use in ports. The system receives ballast water from inbound vessels and treats it to IMO D-2 standard to eliminate potentially invasive marine micro-organisms. It can also deliver water treated to the same standard to outbound vessels. Its mobile, containerised format means that it can be operated from the dockside or from onboard a vessel alongside.
Another unit is planned in Rotterdam
The new unit is now ready for operations at the harbour of Delfzijl and Eemshaven for vessels either without, or with malfunctioning, onboard BWTS capability. MariFlex also plans to have a second operational in Rotterdam ahead of the September implementation of the IMO Ballast Water Management Convention.
