Alfa Laval’s PureBallast for Australian Navy

Alfa Laval has sold more than thirty PureBallast systems in the last year. One of the most prominent orders is one that involves two PureBallast systems for the Royal Australian Navy. The two Australian systems, which will be the first PureBallast installations for naval use, will be fitted aboard the Australian LHD (Landing Helicopter Dock) vessels to be built by Spanish shipyard Navantia Ferrol. The first PureBallast system for the Royal Australian Navy was delivered in mid-December last year, with the second system to follow in April 2010. Each PureBallast system will have a treatment system flow of 250 m3/h.

Since naval vessels are exempted from IMO’s pending ballast water treatment requirements, the decision by the Royal Australian Navy to install ballast water treatment systems is a voluntary one. It was made in part to protect Australia’s sensitive coastal environment, which has already been threatened by the invasion of non-native organisms transported via ballast water. Darwin Harbour, for example, was invaded by the South American black-striped mussel in 1999, which necessitated a quarantine and cleanup effort costing over $2m.

Among the other orders is one for a PureBallast 2500 system from Samsung Heavy Industries for the drilling vessel Stena DrillMAX ICE.

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