(HELSINKI) — The technology group Wartsila announces that its Aquarius UV ballast water management system (BWMS) has successfully completed all testing procedures required for United States Coast Guard (USCG) type approval compliance. The documentation for full USCG type approval is being finalized for submission and awaits only final input from DNV-GL, the USCG approved independent laboratory.
This follows type approval for the Aquarius UV from the International Maritime Organization in 2011, as well as alternate management system (AMS) acceptance from the USCG. AMS acceptance provides regulatory compliance for all ships operating in US waters for an interim period of up to five years from the ships specific compliance date, or until full USCG type approval is achieved.
The consistent and exceptional performance results achieved under both the IMO and USCG testing protocols demonstrate the suitability of the system in enabling shipowners and operators to comply with the global Ballast Water Management Convention regulations, which entered into force in September 2017.
The Aquarius UV BWMS is a flexible system utilizing a two stage approach involving filtration and medium pressure ultra-violet (UV) disinfection technology. The Wartsila Aquarius UV is in full compliance with the IMO D-2 discharge standard.
Wartsila’s offering also includes it’s Aquarius EC BWMS, which was type approved by the IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee in 2013, and which has been submitted for USCG type approval following successful testing procedures.
The International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments (the BWM Convention) was convened to introduce global regulations to control the transfer of potentially invasive species.
