Cathelco received IMO Type Approval for their ballast water treatment system based on a combination of filtration and UV technology. This has been achieved after 5 years of research and development followed by rigorous testing on land and sea. This marks Cathelco’s entry into the BWT market.
The development of the BWT system involved a concerted effort by technical teams based in Chesterfield and Kiel, Germany where a dedicated R&D facility was set up headed by Dr Matthias Voigt, an acknowledged expert in the field. The Type Approval was attained through BSH and the Flag Administration of Germany. It was preceded by land-based testing at the NIOZ facility in Holland and shipboard testing on the M.V. Eddystone, a ro-ro vessel owned by Foreland Shipping and managed by Andrew Weir Shipping, which was fitted with the system in the Remontowa yard in 2012.
Having gained IMO Type Approval, the next step for Cathelco is to submit the BWT system for approval under the US Alternate Management System (AMS) and for use in fresh water. This will enable it to be used on ships entering American waters. One of the likely requirements of USCG approval is that BWT systems are capable of working in all levels of salinity including salt, brackish and fresh water.
