The Netherlands: Pronomar Completes Installation of Merus-Rings for Boskalis’ Vessels

Pronomar Completes Installation of Merus-Rings for Boskalis' Vessels

Recently, Pronomar received an order from Royal Boskalis Westminster NV, a Dutch company that provides services in maritime sectors on international basis, for the Merus-rings for their trailing suction hopper dredger, the Prince of the Netherlands. The Merus rings are a highly innovative, environment-friendly solution for green water treatment.

The fact that Royal Boskalis Westminster NV placed this order shows that they care about the state of their technical, water-related equipment.

The following rings were installed:

  • 1 x 2” HCI BIO ring (for the hydrofor)
  • 1 x 1½” HCI BIO ring (for warm water)
  • 1 x 1½” HCI ring (for the hydrofor – technical water)
  • 1 x 4” HCI ring (for Alfa Laval fresh water generator)

Once the Merus rings are installed, they give off tiny oscillations that disturb the lime scale. Afterwards the troublesome substances are simply flushed away. By keeping the equipment free from scaling the initial performance level of the equipment will be brought back, plus you prolong the lifetime of the equipment, which in return means a significant decrease in costs.

Pronomar won yet another cooperation with Royal Boskalis Westminster NV, this time regarding the placement of a MERUS ring (for technical water) on the MV Willem van Oranje, a trailing suction hopper dredger. Her Majesty the Queen named and launched the Willem van Oranje in February 2010, after the founder of the House of Oranje Nassau, William of Orange (Willem van Oranje).

 Pronomar Completes Installation of Merus-Rings for Boskalis' Vessels

Sustainability was a major focus for the design of the Willem van Oranje. E.g. the ballast water is cleaned before it is pumped overboard. Also space has been left in the funnel where equipment can be installed for the additional cleaning of exhaust fumes. The Willem van Oranje is anticipating the increasingly stricter environmental standards and probably therefore chose for the MERUS ring, which counteracts scaling and preserves the equipment in an environment-friendly manner.

How do the MERUS rings work?

After the installation the rings give off tiny oscillations which then disturb the scaling-process. Very soon afterwards the troublesome substances can be simply flushed away, leaving the equipment, in this particular case the equipment of the Willem van Oranje, free from scaling or any other harmful build-up. By installing the MERUS rings you bring back the initial performance level of the equipment, plus you significantly increase its lifetime. Besides, the MERUS rings do not require any maintenance, which in return means crucial savings in time and costs.

[mappress]

Shipbuilding Tribune Staff, March 19, 2012; Images: pronomar