On Jan. 10, Hyundai Heavy Industries handed over a 317,000DWT VLCC (Very Large Crude Oil Carrier) to Oman Shipping Company (OSC). The ship, measuring 1,093 ft in length, 197 ft in height and 99.7 ft in depth, is the first VLCC with the new electrolysis ballast water treatment system that can treat as much as 100,000 ton ballast water.
Ballast water is sea water used to stabilize hull balance when unloading cargo, and to maintain optimal vessel speed. The seawater can contain bacteria, local plankton, mud and sand from the unloading port where the ballast water has been taken in. As the ballast water is released, it might impact and disturb the marine ecosystem.
To handle this problem, IMO (International Maritime Organization) mandates that all new ships to be delivered from 2012 and all ships operating on the seas from 2017 must have ballast water treatment system installed. Driven by international regulations, the market for ballast water treatment system is predicted to grow to over $30b.
Beside this eco-friendly ballast water treatment system, Hyundai Heavy has also taken the lead in developing green marine technologies such as high output eco-friendly marine engines, a 3,000 ton hybrid petrol vessel, and ballast water treatment systems consisting of a filter and UV sterilizing system.