During an MEPC 62 meeting, which ran from July 11-15, the IMO granted basic type approval to the ERMA FIRST Ballast Water Treatment system. ERMA FIRST is an electrolysis system suited for low salinity waters, cold waters, or waters with high sediment load. According to the company, the system is compact and simple to install, and consumes very little power.
ERMA FIRST will be recommended for receiving Final Approval by MEPC 63. Lloyds Register Classification Society is currently performing a technical appraisal of the system, whose parent company hopes to be granted type approval by March 2012.