After careful evaluation, DAMEN Green Solutions has designed a ballast water management system (BWMS) for the Government of Australia’s next-generation Antarctic Supply and Research Vessel (ASRV), the company said in its press release.
This is a significant decision given the arduous conditions in which the vessel will be operating and the pristine nature of the waters surrounding the continent and its ice shelves. The solution uses the Trojan Marinex BWT 250 to meet the exacting requirements of DAMEN Schelde Naval Shipbuilding (DSNS), which is responsible for the design and engineering of the project.
Given the requirements of its role and the highly sensitive nature of the environment in which it will be operating, the ASRV needs a ballast water management system with specific operational capabilities. These include the ability to operate effectively in very cold waters, to use no chemicals, to generate no by-products and to be as compact as possible given that space is at a premium on this complex vessel.
Following an assessment of all the available options, DAMEN Green Solutions recommended the Trojan Marinex BWT 250, manufactured by Trojan Technologies of Ontario, Canada. The Trojan Marinex ballast water treatment system suite provides exceptionally compact solutions that deliver both filtration and UV treatment within a single unit. With no chemical inputs they create no by-products and are not subject to corrosion. They are also easy to maintain, and the BWT 250 requires only 14 kW of power. A significant additional benefit of the Trojan Marinex system is its ability to operate at 100% effectiveness in water temperatures down to –2°C. Few other BWMS units on the market today can achieve this target; so important for polar operations. Also important is the exceptionally low UV transmittance, which is vital in the Southern Ocean.
“At DAMEN Green Solutions, we partnered with Trojan Marinex to design a ‘plug-and-play’ installation for DSNS,” says Stefhan van Esch Design & Proposal engineer at Damen. “Together we created a bespoke design that mounts the entire BWMS on a 3m by 1m skid that can be easily and quickly fitted into the available footprint in the engine room. Prior to leaving the manufacturing works it will undergo a factory acceptance test, leaving DSNS with the simple matter of connecting up the power and the main pipes once it is aboard the ASRV. The Trojan Marinex BWT 250 will then be ready to disinfect and treat up to 250m³ of seawater an hour.”
Construction of the 160-metre ASRV began in May at DAMEN Shipyards Galati. The BWMS will be delivered to the yard in August for installation later in 2017. The vessel is expected to be operational in 2020.
Damen Shipyards Group
Damen Shipyards Group operates 33 shipbuilding and repair yards, employing 9,000 people worldwide. DAMEN has delivered more than 6,000 vessels in more than 100 countries and delivers some 180 vessels annually to customers worldwide. Based on its unique, standardised ship-design concept DAMEN is able to guarantee consistent quality.
Damen’s focus on standardisation, modular construction and keeping vessels in stock leads to short delivery times, low ‘total cost of ownership’, high resale values and reliable performance. Furthermore, DAMEN vessels are based on thorough R&D and proven technology.
Damen offers a wide range of products, including tugs, workboats, naval and patrol vessels, high speed craft, cargo vessels, dredgers, vessels for the offshore industry, ferries, pontoons and superyachts.
For nearly all vessel types DAMEN offers a broad range of services, including maintenance, spare parts delivery, training and the transfer of (shipbuilding) know-how. DAMEN also offers a variety of marine components, such as nozzles, rudders, anchors, anchor chains and steel works.
Damen Shiprepair & Conversion (DSC) has a worldwide network of sixteen repair and conversion yards of which twelve are located in North West Europe. Facilities at the yards include more than 50 floating and (covered) drydocks, the largest of which is 420 x 90 metres, as well as slopes, ship lifts and indoor halls. Projects range from the smallest simple repairs through Class’ maintenance to complex refits and the complete conversion of large offshore structures. DSC completes around 1,350 repair and maintenance jobs annually, both at yards as well as in ports and during voyage.