First BWTS-Fitted Oceangoing Laker Sails the Great Lakes

The 2016-built oceangoing laker Federal Caribou, owned by Canadian bulk shipowner Fednav Limited, recently arrived at Burns Harbor, Port of Indiana, marking a milestone as it became the first vessel in the Great Lakes to treat ballast water using an onboard system, according to the company.

The 34,564 dwt vessel treats its ballast water two times, by conducting an exchange in the North Atlantic and through filtration and a chlorine disinfection treatment on the ship.

Designed specifically for the Great Lakes, Federal Caribou, which has box-shaped holds in order to facilitate the handling of general cargo, is a part of a series of 16 Handysize vessels planned under the company’s USD 400 million investment.

In April 2015, Fednav signed an agreement with JFE Engineering Corporation for the installation of ballast water treatment systems (BWTS) BallastAce on board its new ocean-going lakers.

These vessels feature 25% fewer greenhouse gas emissions than similar vessels built less than 15 years ago, a decrease of over 15% in nitrogen oxide emissions, and a CLEAN notation from the DNV/GL classification society, according to Fednav.