PureBallast Nears Completion of USCG Testing Procedures
Alfa Laval saiys it continues to move swiftly towards the submission of a U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) type approval application for Alfa Laval PureBallast 3.1. The company has performed half of the required land-based tests and is set to conclude the remainder of these within Q2. Alfa Laval remains on track to submit its application for USCG type approval after requisite tests of PureBallast are finished in Q2 of 2016. Half of the required land-based procedures have now been completed using the USCG-approved CMFDA/FDA (staining) method.
USCG-approved Tests of Alfa Laval PureBallast on Track
Following the United States Coast Guard (USCG) decision not to accept the most probable number (MPN) method in assessing ballast water treatment systems, tests of Alfa Laval PureBallast are underway using the USCGA-approved 5 chloromethylfluorescein diacetate (CMFDA) staining method. With completion expected during Q2 of 2016, the tests will enable a new USCG type approval application after receiving the results. In mid-December 2015, the USCG issued its decision that the MPN method is not equivalent to the CMFDA staining method stipulated by the USCG Ballast Water Discharge Final Rule.
Alfa Laval Bolsters BWTS Retrofit Training
The retrofit market for ballast water treatment systems is poised to boom in the coming years, says Alfa Laval, who is actively training its network of engineering partners for its PureBallast system in order to ensure that requisite design and installation skills are in place to meet demand. When the retrofit market for ballast water treatment systems gains speed, the ability of suppliers to deliver treatment systems will only be one part of satisfying it. Specific knowledge and skills will also have to be in place among design and installation partners. For this reason, Alfa Laval has developed a comprehensive training program for engineering companies preparing to work with PureBallast.
Alfa Laval PureBallast Suited for Smaller Vessels
Alfa Laval PureBallast is now available to significantly smaller vessels. Alfa Laval’s ballast water treatment technology, which was submitted for USCG approval in March 2015, can now be used in systems for flows of 87 cubic meters per hour. A variety of vessel types, including offshore supply vessels, will benefit from the extended PureBallast flow range. The lower capacities are enabled by a new reactor, optimized for system sizes from 170 down to 87 cu. m./hr.. This is a major expansion of the PureBallast family, where a 250 cu. m./hr. system was previously the smallest available.
What's New at Alfa Laval?
Alfa Laval, a provider of specialized products and solutions based on heat transfer, separation and fluid handling technologies, addresses engineering and environmental requirements in a wide range of areas. The company recently announced a number of new developments and products for use in ballast water treatment, oily waste treatment, and exhaust gas cleaning. As IMO ballast water legislation nears implementation and with the USCG Ballast Water Discharge Standard already in effect…
USCG Approves PureBallast for Barge Applications
The explosion-proof version of Alfa Laval’s chemical-free ballast water treatment system, PureBallast 3.1 EX, has received approval from the U.S. Coast Guard for use on barges sailing in U.S. coastal waters. The approval comes a year after Alfa Laval PureBallast received an IECEx Certificate of Conformity from the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) for use in explosive atmospheres on board ships in international waters. As a pioneer in the ballast water treatment arena, Alfa Laval introduced PureBallast, the first commercial chemical-free ballast water treatment system in 2006.
