Singapore-based Pioneer Marine awarded Wärtsilä a contract to supply 22 bulk carriers under construction at Yangzhou Guoyu Shipbuilding Co. in China, with ballast water management systems.
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44 Wärtsilä AQUARIUS UV Ballast Water Management Systems will be installed on 22 bulk carriers being built for Pioneer Marine, Singapore. Image from: Wärtsilä
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Each of the 38,000 deadweight tonnage (DWT) vessels will be fitted with two Wärtsilä AQUARIUS UV BWMS, and the scope of supply includes also the commissioning and sea trials of the equipment. Therefore, the contracts involve 44 Wärtsilä BWMS units, which represents the largest single owner order to date for any BWMS manufacturer. It is expected that all 44 systems will be delivered before the end of 2015, with the first delivery scheduled for December 2014.
The Wärtsilä Aquarius UV is one of only four systems tested and approved for fresh water operation under the US Coast Guard's AMS (Alternative Management System) criteria. This approval was an important factor in Pioneer Marine's decision process when selecting a BWMS supplier.
The IMO's Ballast Water Management Convention will require the owners of up to 40,000 vessels worldwide to install a ballast water management system (BWMS), still to be ratified, the US Coast Guard already implemented its own legislation. This states that all ships must be in compliance with the regulations when sailing in US coastal waters. The intention of the legislation is to address the issue of invasive aquatic species being carried in the ballast water of ships and then discharged to the sea where they can harm local species. Wärtsilä's AQUARIUS UV systems have been type approved for the IMO regulations.
"When looking for a ballast water treatment manufacturer, we wanted to partner with a company having a global presence and a recognized brand to support their products. It was critical that whomever we chose had a proven history in supporting their products,” says Stuart Crawford, senior vice president, head of technical, Pioneer Marine advisers Pte. “This is particularly relevant when looking at this piece of equipment as no one yet has USCG type approval, and we felt that with the weight of Wärtsilä behind it this will ensure our equipment complies within the time frame allotted."
"This is an important order and is indicative of the growing need for ballast water discharging to be properly managed,” says Dr. Joe Thomas, director, Wärtsilä Ballast Water Management Systems. “These vessels will operate in and around US waters, and it was imperative that the selected BWMS have the appropriate approvals. Wärtsilä has a strong track record in this field, and the components used have been used and thoroughly tested in the marine environment for many years.”
The bulk carriers are based on the Green Dolphin design, a concept that meets current and anticipated air and water emission regulations.
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