Japan: Sumitomo Electric to Install Ecomarine System on Cruise Ship Asuka II

Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. (Sumitomo Electric) and NYK Cruises Co., Ltd. (NYK Cruises) have agreed to install the ultraviolet ballast water management system “Ecomarine” on the Asuka II, a cruise ship operated by NYK Cruises, in January 2012, for demonstration testing of the Ecomarine, which is under development at Sumitomo Electric.

The two companies will cooperate in onboard testing specified by the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments.

Ecomarine incorporates filter units originally developed by Sumitomo Electric to separate large plankton and other aquatic organisms. The ballast water management system then eliminates any remaining small organisms with a medium-pressure ultraviolet system. This design ensures power-saving, yet reliable removal of organisms. It is an especially environment-friendly system in comparison to other chemical-free ultraviolet ballast water management systems. Moreover, it ensures ease of operation and maintenance through use of a simple combination of filter units and a compact, yet high-powered medium-pressure ultraviolet system.

When tested on land using a setup comparable to actual use conditions (water treatment at 200 m3/h), Ecomarine demonstrated power consumption reduction and high organism removal capacity, as intended.

Sumitomo Electric has already applied for basic approval (to be granted in March 2012) from the International Maritime Organization (IMO), as specified in the Procedure for Approval of Ballast Water Management Systems that Make Use of Active Substances (G9). Through ongoing land testing and the aforementioned onboard test, the company plans to obtain a final approval of G9 in October 2012 and a type approval by the end of fiscal 2012.

NYK Cruises is cooperating in the development promoted by Sumitomo Electric, in anticipation that Ecomarine – which is a chemical-free system potentially affecting humans and other organisms – will prove to be an environment and human-friendly, reliable ballast water management system that suits the cruise ship and is useful in global environmental conservation.

Ecomarine Treatment Flowchart

– Filling Ballast Water Tank

【1】While the ballast water tank is being filled, filter units discharge large plankton to their habitat.

【2】Ultraviolet system eliminates small plankton and bacteria contained in filtered water.

– Draining Ballast Water Tank

【1】When the Ballast Water Tank is being drained, ballast water bypasses the filter units. Bacteria are eliminated simply by the ultraviolet system.

[mappress]

Shipbuilding Tribune Staff, December 28, 2011; Image: sei