Type-Certified Ballast Water Treatment System

The CleanBallast system, developed over many years by RWO water treatment experts, a Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies company, has received its Type Approval. The system, consisting of a mechanical filter process and a special disinfection unit, has so far been ordered for more than 40 plants. A number of these plants have been installed and in successful commercial operation since the end of 2009, making CleanBallast one of the few systems that can demonstrate a longer operational duration in commercial application.

Because of the increasing negative impacts of alien marine organisms transported in the ballast water of oceangoing ships, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) spent many years working on a Ballast Water Convention. This convention adopted in 2004 is aimed at preventing the unintended transport of microorganisms in ballast water.

The CleanBallast technology was developed by RWO from 2003, refined over the years and extensively tested under real-life conditions. Even under extreme conditions, such as high sediment concentrations, CleanBallast exceeded the IMO test requirements. The design and testing of the plant under real environmental conditions is an essential prerequisite for guaranteeing a fast and safe loading of ballast water and short times alongside in port. In addition, the efficient removal of the sediment considerably reduces tank cleaning costs and prevents the loss of valuable loading capacities.

Many years’ experience in treating water and wastewater aboard ships and offshore rigs helped the Bremen-based company in developing the modular system, which stands out for its technological reliability, sustainability and economical operating and investment costs. The CleanBallast system, which can operate not only in sea water but also in waters with a low salt content, is offered for various capacities and assignments and both for new building and retrofitting.

"Designed and made in Germany" is still an internationally well-known and recognised mark of quality of the RWO maritime water treatment experts, with the CleanBallast plants being manufactured at their main site in Bremen.

"We are very satisfied with the performance of the CleanBallast systems, which already enable us to implement the loading and discharge of ballast water in conformity with the D2 standard of the IMO," says Niels Stolberg, President and CEO of Beluga Shipping GmbH, about the RWO technology.

Due to its leading edge technologies, plant reliability and short delivery times, RWO has in the course of recent years already established itself as the international market leader in bilge water treatment. RWO is now also pursuing this goal with the ballast water treatment system CleanBallast.