Portugal's Navalrocha shipyard reports a strong influx of BWTS (Ballast Water Treatment System) retrofit projects for 2020.
The shipyard completed its first ever BWTS installation with technical engineering partner Step Consolidated on the Paxoi bunker tanker, managed MM Marine Inc.
Navalrocha Commercial Director Sergio Rodrigues said the contract sparked a series of other deals with five more BWTS retrofit projects scheduled for 2020.
“The Paxoi installation process was carried out in the last quarter of 2019 during a 16-day drydocking,” he said. “We worked alongside our partner Step Consolidated to install an Alfa Laval system. In order to maximize speed and efficiency our engineers fabricated new pipes before the vessel arrived after requesting 3D CAD drawings from the vessel management team. Pre-fabrication work involved anti-corrosion treatment with the application of zinc coating through deep carbonisation. We delivered a wide range of other repair work alongside the BWTS installation including blasting, painting, mechanical work, steel renewal and electrical work.
Navalrocha commercial director Sergio Rodrigues. Photo: Navalrocha
“As the global deadline for ballast water treatment compliance closes, this ground-breaking project helps highlight our speed and planning deliver BWTS projects within broader drydocking repair works. We can further deliver ‘on-voyage’ BWTS installations through partner Step Consolidated, which has built a strong portfolio in this sphere, working on large vessels including cargo and bunker vessels, chemical, product and LPG carriers.”
The IMO ballast water management convention limits the concentration of viable marine organisms and certain bacteria in discharged ballast water (the D-2 standard). The great majority of merchant ships will have to install treatment systems to meet that standard. For most existing vessels, the compliance deadline is contingent upon the timing of the first IOPP renewal survey, which could be as early as this month and as late as September 2024.
