Wartsila: We're ready for IMO BWM Convention

Wärtsilä says it has proactively planned and developed its range of Ballast Water Management System (BWMS) solutions in anticipation of the ratification of the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) ballast water convention which will now enter into force on September 8, 2017.

The IMO BWM Convention will ultimately require vessels in excess of 400 GRT to have a type approved BWMS installed and operating in accordance with the convention guidelines, and which conforms to the Regulation D2 discharge performance standard.

"Wärtsilä's development work in this field has involved close cooperation with its customers to ensure the most practical and effective solutions are brought to the market. The company's BWMS solutions are fully supported by Wärtsilä's global service network," says Joe Thomas, Director, Ballast Water Management Systems, Wärtsilä Marine Solutions.

The Wärtsilä Aquarius range of Ballast Water Management Systems (BWMS), are two-stage solutions that adopt a common approach to filtration, using automatic back washing screen type filters.

A choice of treatment technology is provided through selection of either the Aquarius-UV or Aquarius-EC.

Aquarius -UV provides disinfection using ultra-violet light (UV).

Aquarius -EC provides disinfection using sodium hypochlorite generated through side stream electro-chlorination.

Both systems are IMO Type Approved, are available for both safe and hazardous area installation, and have USCG AMS status. Wärtsilä says that full USCG Type Approval will follow in 2017