Type Approval for Hyde Guardian BWT System

Hyde Marine, Inc., a Lamor Group company, has received final Type Approval for the Hyde Guardian Ballast Water Management System.  The Type Approval Certificate has been issued by Lloyd’s Register on behalf of the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency to confirm compliance with guidelines contained in IMO resolution MEPC.174(58).  This approval covers the complete range of Hyde Guardian systems with capacities from 60 m3/hr to 6000 m3/hr, allowing Hyde to satisfy the requirements of all vessel types and sizes.

Hyde completed all required land based testing at Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ) in the spring of 2008.  Shipboard testing, spanning a six month period during 2008, was conducted aboard the cruise ship Coral Princess, by scientists from the University of Maryland Chesapeake Biological Laboratory (CBL). Tests were conducted in full accordance with the IMO G8 Guidelines and demonstrated that the performance of the Hyde Guardian exceeds the IMO D2 performance standard and that it can meet more stringent proposed US Federal and State of California standards as well.

The Hyde Guardian treatment process combines efficient, automatic back-flushing disk filtration during ballasting and powerful, medium pressure UV disinfection during both ballasting and deballasting to inactivate marine organisms.  No chemicals or active substances are used or produced in the treatment process or for maintenance of the system.  Suitability for shipboard applications has been well proven aboard the Coral Princess, operating continuously since June 2003, and the Celebrity Mercury, in service since January 2007.  Both vessels have been allowed by the State of Washington to discharge treated ballast water into State waters.

In October 2008, the Coral Princess, was the first ship accepted into the USCG Ship Technical Evaluation Program (STEP), allowing it to discharge properly treated ballast water anywhere along its normal routes in US waters for the life of the ship.  After five years of operation, all STEP and IMO G8 testing was performed with the originally installed UV lamps, quartz sleeves, and filter disks – a clear demonstration of the Hyde Guardian’s robust design and efficient automatic self-cleaning process.

Hyde Guardian systems are available as components for retrofit into the space available aboard existing vessels, as was the case with the first two systems installed.  They can also be delivered as compact, skid mounted units, ensuring easy and inexpensive installation for new vessel construction projects.  Hyde Marine supplied six Guardian Model HG300-S systems to the UK Royal Navy in December 2008.  The systems will be installed on two new Royal Navy CVF Future Aircraft Carriers, which have three completely segregated ballast systems.

(www.hydemarine.com)