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Norway’s OceanSaver has announced that its next generation advanced ballast water treatment system Mark II will reduce energy use by over 50% compared to its previous technology. OceanSaver’s on-going research and development initiatives have led to the introduction of the Mark II system, which features an optimised filtration step, not available at the time of the original system development. The improved filtration negates the need for cavitation and de-oxygenation of the ballast water through nitrogen super-saturation, resulting in an even more compact system.

Nitrogen super-saturation remains an optional extra. It offers ship owners the potential for reduced vessel maintenance costs through the improved corrosion performance of ballast tanks and coatings and is particularly suited to newbuildings or high specification, specialist vessels.

Historically the OceanSaver system has been suited to larger, more complex vessels. According to Tor Atle Eiken, Senior Vice President Sales & Marketing of OceanSaver, the new Mark II technology is an optimal solution for medium-sized vessels and retrofits where installation space is limited. “Only 1.6% of the ballast flow is required to produce the activated water used for disinfection. Mark II is an extremely reliable solution for all types of waters, whether salt, fresh, warm or cold, and is a perfect fit for medium-sized vessels ranging between 35,000 – 80,000 dwt,” he says.

The retrofit market will be a strong focus area for OceanSaver. Without the need for extra piping found in the first generation unit due to the cavitation and nitrogen super-saturation steps, shipowners now have greater design flexibility and reduced capital expenses at installation time. “The Mark II system is extremely compact and flexible. Standard systems are available for flow rates from 2 x 500m3/h up to 2 x 3.000m3/h and customized systems unlimited in capacities,” says Eiken.

Type approval for the new system is expected by the end of the third quarter of 2011, in time for the expected mandatory application of the IMO ballast water convention. OceanSaver is jointly owned by BW Ventures and Norwegian investment company Investinor. Staffed by a team of some 50 skilled engineers, technicians and sales people, OceanSaver is shipping’s largest company solely dedicated to ballast water treatment systems.