ACO Marine gets Bureau Veritas type approval for new wastewater treatment system
ACO Marine, a leading supplier of wastewater treatment technology to the maritime industry, has received Bureau Veritas type approval for its new ACO Maripur NF® sewage treatment system, the Company said in a press release.
The BV tests confirm that ACO Marine’s next generation treatment plant meets the stringent performance requirements of IMO Resolution MEPC 227(64), which enters into force in January 2016.
Mark Beavis, ACO Marine’s managing director, said: “This is an important step forward in the continuing development of the Maripur product range. It confirms that the new treatment system goes beyond the new MEPC 227(64) standards to meet the revised discharge requirements, particularly Section 4.2.”
The revision requires vessels with more than 12 passengers operating in IMO designated “special areas” to reduce the phosphorous and nitrogen content of treated effluent. There is no mandate for this in the existing requirement.
“The new regulations are going to hit the industry hard,” said Beavis. “There are still a significant number of systems in operation that are failing to meet the existing standard let alone the new one.”
Type-approval testing has verified that the ACO Maripur NF® can reduce Coliform Bacteria to 17.5 count/100ml [standard is 100 count/100ml], TSS to 2.4mg/l [standard is 35mg/l], BOD to 7.3mg/l [standard is 25mg/l], and COD to 60mg/l [standard is 125mg/l], while nitrogen and phosphorous content is significantly below the mandated levels of 20mg/l and 1mg/l at 7.2mg/l and 0.3mg/l respectively.
Beavis said: “The ACO Maripur NF® is the first BV type-approved wastewater treatment system introduced to meet the new resolution. The new range is very simple to install as a newbuild or retrofit solution, making it a very attractive treatment option for owners and builders who require the operational flexibility to operate in all areas, including the IMO designated Special Areas.”
ACO Marine, a subsidiary of the US$1 billion German-headquartered ACO Group, has a sales network operating worldwide and is a leading supplier of advanced wastewater treatment systems to the global commercial, naval, offshore and leisure marine sectors.
Established ten years ago, ACO Marine is a member of the international ACO Group with a sales and service network world-wide. Their unique environmental solutions are used primarily in wastewater technology, wastewater management and drainage systems. The wide range of products includes advanced membrane bioreactor systems, conventional extended aeration with ‘bio-sword’ filtration sewage treatment plants, push-fit pipe systems in both stainless and galvanised steel and fully automated high capacity grease separators. ACO Marine develops in-house solutions from its ISO 9001 accredited production facilities, all of which are located entirely within the EU.
It is the preferred supplier of wastewater treatment systems to the mega-yacht industry and its patented range of grease separators now claim a 75% share of the cruise market.