Blackwater News

RWO has been selected by KiwiRail to supply its next-generation advanced water treatment system - the CleanSewage Membrane Reactor (CS-MBR) – to New Zealand’s Inter-Island Resilient Connection Project (iReX).Two custom-built Interislander ROPAX ferries have been ordered to service the connection between Wellington and Picton. Environmental protection is a key priority for the project, and both vessels, which are being built at Korean shipyard Hyundai Mipo Dockyard (HMD), will…

The combined emissions of metals and other environmentally hazardous substances from ships is putting the marine environment at risk according to a new study from Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden.The researchers calculated the contaminant load from these emissions into the marine environment in four ports, and found that water discharged from ships’ scrubbers accounts for most of the contaminants.“The results speak for themselves. Stricter regulation of discharge water from scrubbers is crucial to reduce the deterioration of the marine environment…

The BioBarrier MarineMBR series of Type II sewage treatment plant (STP) from marine sewage and water treatment specialist Scienco/FAST is engineered to help meet the increasingly stringent needs of U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) and International Maritime Organization (IMO) water quality standards and is ideal for water reuse applications, its manufacturer says.With its decades-long history providing adaptable and proven marine sewage devices, environmentally-friendly cleaners and other industrial water management technologies…

On land, one of the most effective ways to reduce water consumption is to conduct a “water audit,” which involves analyzing a building’s water use, discovering where potential water savings are possible, and implementing a cost-effective plan to turn those possible water savings into reality.Typically, a water audit involves:Identifying where water is brought into a facility (looking for leaks before water is delivered)Location of all water-using fixtures and systems as well as drainage systemsGathering two years of water utility bills…

When it comes to marine sewage, it pays to measure. It turns out that the physical size of the equipment itself is not your only worry. Marine Sanitation Devices: (perhaps) the three dirtiest words in the nautical lexicon. Nevertheless, Marine Sanitary Devices – or MSD’s, as they are affectionately known – are pre-engineered, pre-packaged blackwater/greywater treatment systems. We don’t like to talk about it, we know that waste streams are treated and – we hope – that they are also in compliance. Installed on all manners of vessels, nowhere are these devices (arguably) as important as the ones that provide service on the myriad of inland and brown water workboats.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Marcia is predicted to intensify to a Category 4 system as it crosses the Queensland coast between Mackay and Gladstone early on Friday morning with destructive winds with gusts of up to 270 km/h expected near the core of the system. Gales are expected to develop about coastal and island communities between Bowen and Double Island Point this evening (Thursday), and extend inland to areas including Blackwater, Moura, Biloela, and Monto overnight and into Friday morning. Residents in the coastal warning zone, between Mackay and Double Point (including Gladstone and Bundaberg) are warned of the potential for a dangerous storm tide as the cyclone crosses the coast.

Regulatory burdens, those here and now coming, translate into a tale of many acronyms. By Matthew Valcourt (taken from our September 2011 MarineNews print edition). The latest trend to further regulate vessel emissions and discharges will continue to give vessel owners and operators – already burdened with numerous regulations when plying international and inland waters – more sleepless nights. These include the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (APPS), the Clean Water Act (CWA)…

The Maritime Institute of Technology and Graduate Studies (MITAGS) and Pacific Maritime Institure (PMI) announced their upcoming “Introduction to the Maritime Environment and EPA General Permit” Course. With the introduction of the Vessel General Permit the EPA has captured an estimated 70,000 additional regulated units that have previously been exempt from permitting requirements in U.S. waters. This new universe of permitees, while previously subject to many international, national, State and Local requirements, will be challenged to understand, incorporate and manage a new set of requirements on discharges previously unregulated by the EPA in the brief time granted for implementation by the permit.

According to a Nov. 19 report from The Independent World, the American security company Blackwater is planning to launch a flotilla of gunboats for hire by the shipping companies. The firm, which received international attention when its staff killed civilians in Iraq, has already equipped one vessel, called The McArthur, which will carry up to 40 armed guards and have a landing pad for an attack helicopter. The McArthur, a former survey ship, arrives in the Gulf of Aden, the scene of the recent high-profile hijackings and shootouts with Somali pirates, at the end of the year. It is to be joined by three or four similar vessels over next year to form the company's private navy. (Source: The Independent World)

Secretary of the Navy Donald C. Winter awarded Chief Warrant Officer Mark Bierce, Logistics and Support Unit 2’s Combat Service Support Detachment (CSSD) officer in charge, a Bronze Star on June 5 at Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek. Bierce is one of three Seabees from his detachment of 30 who were presented this medal in the past 18 months, including Senior Chief Equipment Operator (SCW) Michael Metheny and Chief Builder (SCW) Darren Drake. All three served as officers in charge of a Combat Service Support Task Unit supporting Naval Special Warfare (NSW) operations in some of the most dangerous areas in Iraq. Most Seabees operate as part of a Naval Mobile Construction Battalion, which consists of about 500 people.

The joint SNAME/ASNE Committee on Environmental Engineering (CEE) released a comprehensive source of marine environmental technical papers, a CD containing 266 papers encompassing almost every aspect of marine environmental protection and environmental engineering. Twelve contributing members of the joint Committee on Environmental Engineering undertook a review of ASNE and SNAME associated publications since 1984, and selected those that would be most helpful in their professional endeavors. The intent was to provide both historical perspective as well as cutting edge technology and processes in use today. The documents in .PDF format and searchable by title, author(s), source publication, and date.

Blackwater unveiled its plans to create a new subsidiary, Blackwater Maritime Security Solutions. Blackwater Maritime Security Solutions (BMSS), in a strategic partnership with the Global Maritime and Transportation School (GMATS) at the U. S. Merchant Marine Academy, and other professional maritime organizations and industry leaders will focus on providing world-class tactical maritime security training, professional maritime security services, and cutting-edge maritime security vulnerability assessments and plans in accordance with the International Maritime Organization (IMO)-mandated International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) code. BMSS will also provide international anti and counter-piracy, and anti and counter-terrorism security programs.

Blackwater, a training, security, logistics, peace support, and stability operations firm unveiled its plans to create a new subsidiary; Blackwater Maritime Security Solutions. Blackwater Maritime Security Solutions (BMSS), in a strategic partnership with the Global Maritime and Transportation School (GMATS) at the U. S. Merchant Marine Academy, and other professional maritime organizations and industry leaders will focus on providing world-class tactical maritime security training, professional maritime security services, and cutting-edge maritime security vulnerability assessments and plans in accordance with the International Maritime Organization (IMO)-mandated International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) code.

should be avoided. chaired by internationally recognized marine biologist Dr. Sylvia Earle. recognized on navigation charts. current operational practices by ICCL member lines to protect the environment. advanced wastewater purification system). cruise ship. identified by a GIS study commissioned by the science panel. biodiversity," said Dr. director of CI's Global Marine Division. recommendation can be carried out. operations. cruise industry by the seven-member independent science panel. through the U.S. practices. http://www.iccl.org. marine environment. world's oceans," said Michael Crye, ICCL president. science panel's recommendations and determine how to best implement them. wastewater discharges, storm water runoff and marine vessels.

The State of California enacted the Clean Coast Act. This law, which comes into effect on January 1, 2006, will prohibit oceangoing ships from conducting onboard incineration while operating within three miles of the California coast. The law will also prohibit oceangoing ships from releasing hazardous waste, other waste, sewage sludge, and oily bilgewater into marine waters of the state. If there is a release of such material from an oceangoing ship into marine waters of the state, the owner or operator must, within 24 hours, notify the State Water Resources Control Board. Upon the departure of an oceangoing ship from its first port or place of call in California in 2006…