When ships take on ballast, they take on more than water. Microscopic organisms, eggs, cysts and even the planktonic larvae of larger organisms are small enough to pass through the intakes and pumps.
If these organisms survive transport to other parts of the globe, their impact can be devastating. In seas that are weakened by overfishing, contaminants and pollution, non-native species can reproduce quickly and deprive local species of food and living space.
Such invasions can jeopardize the health and economy of the local population, and their effects are usually irreversible. IMO has identified the introduction of species via ballast water as one of the four greatest threats to the world’s oceans.
In 2004, the organization adopted the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments, which will phase in requirements for ballast water treatment over the coming years.
PureBallast from Alfa Laval
PureBallast is an easy-to-use ballast water treatment system that meets the new IMO requirements. Unlike many proposed systems, which rely on chemicals or are too large to implement in real life, PureBallast involves no environmental or operational compromises. Using a unique, chemical-free technology, PureBallast produces radicals that neutralize organisms in ballast water.
The process is effective, automated and self-contained, as well as harmless to the ballast tanks and crew. In pilot tests, onboard trials and the initial stages of IMO certification, PureBallast has demonstrated the necessary biological efficiency. Since the system is also remarkably compact, it can be installed even in cramped engine room conditions or in areas that are otherwise difficult to utilize. By combining space-saving design, chemical-free technology and full automation, PureBallast is the clear choice for both installation and operation.