UV Treatment of Ballast Water for Large Flows

Ballast water is used when vessels take ocean water into special compartments, called ballasts, to provide stability and optimal waterline on a ship’s hull. Ballast water is either taken onto the ship or released back into the ocean as cargo is loaded or unloaded to maintain balance and structural integrity. The practice of adding ballast water in one port and releasing it into a foreign port has caused a huge detrimental impact on communities worldwide with harmful bio invasion.  UV treatment of ballast water to kill or neutralize the organisms in ballast water is a proven treatment technology for large vessels and tankers.

With the increase in global trade in the last few decades, 90% of global trade is now transported by sea. When ships began utilizing steel hulls, the opportunity to use ballast water for stability greatly increased the practice of ballast water exchange. Each year up to 12 billion tons of ballast water is dumped around the world, releasing aquatic organisms that are not native to the environment they are released in. These foreign invaders include marine sea creatures, bacteria, viruses, and microorganisms naked to the human eye and have also been known to include things like toxic algae and Cholera which have caused serious illness and even death to people in affected communities. Bio invasions from contaminated ballast water are recognized as one of the top four greatest threats facing the sustainability of the world’s oceans. Contaminated ballast water causing harmful bio invasion is a serious threat facing oceans today along with physical destruction and alteration of marine habitats, the overexploitation of living marine resources, and marine pollution caused by land-based sources.

Ballast Water Management Convention

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) adopted the Ballast Water Management Convention (BWMC) in 2004 which established standards and procedures to prevent the spread of harmful marine organisms from one port to another region. The most recent ratification by the required number of global states makes the BWMC globally enforceable to all ships traveling through international waters, effective September 8, 2017. All ships traveling through international waters are required to manage ballast water and sediments with a ballast water management system. All ships must maintain a ballast water management certificate along with the record book, which is subject to inspection by any port authority. Newly constructed vessels must have an onboard ballast water treatment system while existing ships encounter phased-in requirements. Ballast water treatment systems must meet IMO guidelines and US Coast Guard approval. There are basically three types of ballast water treatment technologies which include:

·        Physical / Mechanical filtration

·        Chemical / Electrochlorination

·        UV Treatment with UVC germicidal technology

Compliant ballast water treatment technologies must actively remove, neutralize, or kill organisms prior to discharge. This differs from conventional methods which required ships to exchange ballast water mid-ocean or at least 50 nautical miles from shore. UV treatment of ballast water is gaining popularity as ship owners and operators are realizing the many advantages of this environmentally friendly ballast water treatment system.

UV Treatment of Ballast Water in Large Vessels

UV treatment offers many advantages over other treatment technologies and is changing the thinking of shipowners when it comes to large vessels and tankers. Electro-chlorination has been popular for large flow vessels, although UV ballast water treatment systems are proven highly competitive with respect to power consumption, footprint, safety, and effectiveness. Modern solutions that incorporate specially designed UVC germicidal lamps easily compete on footprint and power consumption even at high flows at or above 1500–3000 m3/h. Lower operating costs combined with simple operation and highly effective germicidal results are tipping the scale towards ultraviolet treatment.

UV Treatment of Ballast Water Versus Electrochlorination

Power Consumption

UV treatment of ballast water is proven to provide similar power consumption as electro-chlorination water treatment systems, with additional recognized advantages. Electro-chlorination treatment systems depend upon the salinity and temperature of seawater, using significantly more power in low-salinity or low-temperature conditions. UV ballast water treatment systems are completely unaffected and operate independently of water temperature or salinity.

Footprint

UV ballast water treatment systems can be configured to match the footprint and water flow of a particular vessel and can even be smaller than electrochlorination systems. UV water treatment systems also require less space than electrochlorination treatment systems as there is no need to handle and store chemicals. UV ballast water treatment systems are also less costly and easier to install.

Safety

Chlorination systems may require additional ventilation, explosion-proof storage compartments, and safety training for the crew. Electrochlorination produces both chlorine and hydrogen gases which are toxic and highly flammable when mixed. UV water treatment systems are safe, simple to handle and chemical-free. UV germicidal lamps produce no harmful by-products and do not require additional measures to prevent corrosion or neutralize oxidants. UV ballast water treatment methods offer these benefits with power consumption, footprint, and safety as well as many additional operational advantages. UVC germicidal technology is proven to quickly eradicate bacteria, viruses, and microorganisms naked to the human eye. UV radiation when emitted at 254 nm instantly penetrates the DNA of these living cells, rendering them unable to replicate and harmless.

LightSources Offers UV Lamps for Ballast Water Treatment

LightSources is a leading global supplier and recognized authority on UV lamps and UVC germicidal solutions. We offer a wide selection of germicidal lamps proven effective in surface, water, and air disinfection systems found worldwide. Our skilled engineers possess in-depth expertise of UV radiation and custom development of germicidal lamps to meet your specifications.

 

UV Ballast Water Management System Advantages

A UV ballast water management system is a means for controlling and managing the ballast water on ships to prevent the spread of harmful marine organisms. Ships use ballasts, which are large water tanks filled with sea water and located in strategic areas around the ship, for balance depending on the weight of their cargo.

Ships will pick up ballast water while removing cargo in one port to offset the weight loss while traveling through the ocean. The problem with this is that along with filling their ballasts with oceanic water, marine organisms, including harmful marine life and microorganisms, come with it.

Why a UV Ballast Water Management System is Important

These hitchhikers are known to wreak havoc on the ecosystem in which they are released. When ships reach another port and release their ballast water to add cargo, these foreign marine lives take hold and take over in an environment where they have no natural predators. Foreign invaders altering natural marine ecosystems through contaminated ballast water is recognized as one of the greatest threats to the sustainability of our planet’s oceans.

It is estimated that more than 79 million tons of ballast water is discharged at ports of call near the US coastline alone. Not only does harmful ballast water invade and pose a threat to coastal ecosystems, but also poses a real danger to humans as well. Contaminated ballast water spreads diseases which affect humans, causes insurmountable economic damage by destroying fishing industries entire towns depend upon and requires massive cleanup efforts.

Seawater in ballast tanks contains many harmful pathogens and microbes which pose a real safety risk to humans. Seawater taken in as ships ballast water has been proven to contain harmful diseases such a Cholera which is a quick spreading disease that can be fatal for nearly 50% of people it infects. Ballast water has been known to spread toxic algae, jellyfish which completely destroy fishing ports, mussels which attach to structures like dams, and harmful marine microorganisms including viruses and bacteria naked to the human eye.

Ballast Water Management Convention Requirements

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is a specialized agency within the United Nations which is tasked with the responsibility of establishing safety, security and preventing marine and atmospheric pollution by ships worldwide. The Ballast Water Management Convention (BWMC) is a landmark effort to halt the spread of invasive aquatic species.

The BWMC was first adopted by the IMO in 2004 as an international effort to control and manage ballast water and sediments from all ships. Since its adoption, the BWMC has had several technical guidelines and updates to support shipmasters, ship owners and port authorities.

The biggest news for the BWMC is the recent ratification of more than 65 states which represent more than 70% of the total world tonnage and requires all ships traveling through international waters to maintain a ballast water management system. These recent requirements were enforceable September 8, 2017, and are to be implemented over time for existing ships and immediately for all newly constructed vessels.

The BWMC obligates all parties to undertake comprehensive actions to reduce or eliminate the transfer of harmful aquatic pathogens and organisms through the control and management of ballast water and sediments. Port State control officers have the ability to inspect ships to verify an approved ballast water management plan, a valid certificate and to inspect the ballast water record book or sample the ship’s ballast water.

Ballast Water Management System Technologies

Ballast water treatment methods include mechanical filtration and UV ballast water management systems, often used together for highly effective control and elimination of harmful marine organisms. Ultraviolet (UV) germicidal lamps are proven to instantly eradicate viruses, bacteria and microorganisms naked to the human eye. UV ballast water treatment technology offers many advantages to shipmasters and shipowners.

UV ballast water management systems are approved by the US Coast Guard and the IMO, and offer the following advantages:

·        Simple operation with very low maintenance

·        Economical, fast and efficient technology

·        Eco-friendly, chemical free safe process

·        No need to handle, store or transport dangerous chemicals

·        No impact to the environment

UV ballast water treatment technology is safe and effective, requires a small footprint suitable for smaller vessels and is very low maintenance with long-lasting UV germicidal lamps.

LightSources Offers High Performance UV Germicidal Lamps

LightSources is a leading global authority on UVC germicidal lamp development and solutions for a wide range of applications. We have partnered with many of the largest providers of ballast water treatment systems in the world to provide high-quality UV germicidal lamps and components for newly constructed ships or alterations to existing ships.

Our Low Pressure (LP) Pellet Amalgam lamps are designed with proprietary LongLIfe™ technology providing an increased efficiency of 30 to 35% over other comparable lamps. Our Medium Pressure UV (MPUV) germicidal lamps provide an even smaller footprint with proven durability and effectiveness. UV radiation emitted at precisely 254 nm is proven to quickly destroy harmful germs, viruses and bacteria by instantly destroying the DNA of these cells, rendering them harmless and unable to replicate.