UV Treatment for Ships Ballast Water

UV treatment for ships ballast water is providing a solution to the new requirements of the Ballast Water Treatment Convention (BWTC).  New requirements are taking effect in September of 2017, enforced by the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC).  The MEPC is a division of the IMO, the International Maritime Organization which is a global effort of the United Nations.  

Treatment of ballast water in ships is imperative to the survival of our oceans as we know them.  When ships take on ballast water for stability of the vessel, they often release it into foreign waters in another region, which can have devastating effects.  As has happened in several oceans around the world, when marine organisms consisting of bacteria, viruses, and some small sea creatures are released into a foreign environment they can invade and destroy the current eco-system. 

Some devastating consequences of the invasion of foreign marine life have resulted in diminishing a once dominant fishing industry into a ghost town, and in some cases toxic red algae actually causing death of most marine life and some humans.

Methods of Treating Ballast Water

Of the three methods for treating ships ballast water, UV germicidal lamps are providing a safe, effective, and cost-efficient method.  Some systems may use filtration, but this is not always effective as some bacteria are so small filters are not reliable.  Some methods use chemicals, but this requires constant maintenance and can cause corrosion of equipment and require dichlorination.

UV treatment is becoming the popular choice for effectively eradicating harmful organisms.  UV light, with wavelength emittance of an effective 254 nm (nanometer) provides effective germ killing solutions with low maintenance.

LightSources Provides Solutions to Ship Manufacturers

LightSources has partnered with the largest suppliers of water treatment systems for the shipping industry, enhancing performance with cost reduction.  Our germ-killing lamps use the most effective amount of ultraviolet transmission, promoting the most absorption and completely eliminating microbial organisms.  Contact the experts at LightSources to learn more about UV applications for ballast water treatment systems.

LightSources and its affiliated companies – LCD Lighting, Voltarc, LightTech, and Cerlux represent the leading high-tech designers and manufacturers in the lamp industry today.  Our products are used world-wide in a multitude of applications and industries such as our UV air treatment systems that provide industries a way to disinfect and improve the quality of air without the need for toxic chemicals.