In a ship structure, ballast water plays an important role in the stability, safety and convenience of ships when operating on the sea as well as loading and unloading. So what is ballast water?  Why must we treat ballast water? What solution from Origin Pipe to treat ballast water?

The compact water treatement system 

  First of all, ballast water is the amount of water that adds weight to the lower part of the vessel, or the pump regulates through the water tanks on the port and starboard of the ship, increasing the stability by pulling the central gravity lower than the center of the buoyancy or keeping the ship in equilibrium against the tilt or twist of the ship. Ballast water is used to ensure the tidiness, convenience and stability of the ship during the operation, loading and unloading of goods at ports and at sea.

  According to the international convention, when ships enter the sea of some countries, it must treat ballast water to avoid carrying microorganisms, algae, bacteria from one area to another. At the 71st Session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC71) held at IMO headquarters (London, United Kingdom) they approved the revised, supplementary draft with regulation B-3 of the BWM convention, which changes the time for installing the ballast water management systems for new build and existing vessels as follows:

• New vessel (which is the main ship to build on or after September 8, 2017): install the system when the ship is handed over and put into operation.
• Existing vessels whose new level inspection for IOPP certificates completed between September 8, 2014 and September 7, 2017: install the system at the first new inspection of IOPP certification after September 8, 2017.
• Existing ships different from the above ships: install the system at the new  second level inspection for IOPP certificate after September 8, 2017, or at the new level  inspection for IOPP certificate on or after September 8, 2019, depending on which day came first.
• Existing ships are not required to have IOPP certificates (oil tankers with a total capacity of less than 150 or other vessels with a total capacity of less than 400): install the system no later than September 8, 2024.

Thus, the time for ship owners to equip the ballast water treatment system when entering the countries participating in the international convention BWM is not far away, before 2020. Understanding this essential need, our company ORIGIN PIPE has a ballast water treatment service based on UV technology. The advantages of UV technology compared to other technologies such as use of chemicals, membranes, anode& cathode are:

1. Very low power consumption
2. Low maintenance costs
3. Install in module according to free space on board
4. Compact size suitable for amending and upgrading system
5. Stable quality and worldwide warranty
6. Full international registration certificates such as: DNV, ABS, Lloyd, GL even with Vietnam registry VR

To support ship owners and users easily visualizing how ballast water treatment works, Origin Pipe would like to propose the sequence of tasks to be performed as follows:

1. Consult to select suitable equipment in accordance with technical requirements for installation
2. Study documents and drawings related to layout of engine room and piping system
3. Actual survey of ships, location of installation, 3D scanning
4. Build the design submited for ship owners and register approval
5. Prepare materials, equipment, technology and construction method
6. Construct and install equipment for treating ballast water as well as other equipment when material are ready
7. Check, commissioning, invite register approve and sea trial.

The module ballast water treatment 

  Total implementation time is about 7 months, including 1 month for surveying, 3D scanning and system design and the remaining time is waiting for materials and construction organization.