BALLAST WATER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Economic and ecological toll is continuing unabated due to the spread of harmful organisms originating from ballast water discharge. It is a worldwide maritime pollution problem effecting vulnerable maritime regions with real consequences of economic losses.
International Maritime Organization (IMO) of the UN mandated in 2004 that all Ballasting Ships must have a ballast water treatment system to kill harmful organisms in the ballast water discharge. M H Systems has developed such a system – ‘InertBallast’ – a de-oxygenation system utilizing inert gas from ship’s own inert gas generator.
REGULATORY AGENCIES HAVE ACTED:
- In 2012 US Coast Guard (USCG) required all ships entering US Waters to employ Ballast Water Systems re-tested in an USCG approved test facility and re-type approved by USCG.
- Several BWT Systems were re-approved by USCG although marginally effective in treating large quantities of waters.
- REGULATIONS HAVE CREATED HUGE FINANCIAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR InertBallast in a $30 billion dollar market.
- OPPORTUNITY – RETURNS INVESTMENT OF $6 MILLION IN LESS THAN 3 YEARS IN $30 BILLION MARKET
- OPPORTUNITY – “InertBallast” TECHNOLOGY SAVES APPROXIMATELY $200K PER VOYAGE BY TREATING BALLAST DURING VOYAGE
- OPPORTUNITY – FAILURE AND HIGH COST OF COMPETING TECHNOLOGY
MITIGATION OF CORROSION IN BALLAST TANKS OF DOUBLE HULL TANKERS
OPPORTUNITIES:
- Reduced maintenance costs and reduced hull repair bill ($$)
- Extended vessel service life by approximately 7 years ($$)
Filling the ballast tanks with inert gas is the optimum way to abate insidious corrosion in ballast tanks of a double hulled vessel, because coatings and sacrificial anodes only partially work in certain conditions. Other factors:
A. Coatings and anodes do not work well to avoid corrosion when the ballast tanks are empty.
B. Addition of steel to compensate for corrosion would be unnecessary, as required by IMO and IACS guidelines for double hull tankers.
Read A method to Mitigate Corrosion in ballast tanks of a double hull tanker
HYDROCARBON EMISSION CONTAINMENT
Opportunity: VOC (HYDROCARBON) EMISSION CONTAINMENT ($$) FROM TANKERS DURING TRANSIT:
An estimated 4 million tons of fluid cargo per year is lost due to VOC emission from crude oil versus 25,000 tons lost due to accidental spillage of oil from tankers. A system to reduce or eliminate spillage of oil due to tanker’s grounding was developed applying slight negative pressures in the ullage of the crude oil tanker with a funding from the Office of Naval Research (ONR). This system, called American Underpressure System (AUPS) uses a closed loop vapor control system that prevents or drastically minimizes emission of crude oil vapor during transit of crude oil tankers.
Read Hydrocarbon Emission Containment in Tankers during Loading and Unloading
ALTERNATIVE DOUBLE HULL TANKER DESIGN = (DOUBLE SIDE HULL + SUB-ATMOSPHERIC ULLAGE)
Opportunity:
- EQUIVALENT CARGO LOSS PROTECTION SIMILAR TO IMO DOUBLE HULL DESIGN WITHOUT THE RISK ELEMENTS ($$) OF DOUBLE BOTTOM DESIGN
- EMISSION CONTAINMENT OF CRUDE OIL VAPOR ($$) FROM TANKER DURING TRANSIT
MH Systems presents an alternative to the double hull configuration now being constructed and used for crude oil transport service. Double hulls are structurally complex and expensive, and appear to be developing operational disadvantages as well. MH System proposes to have double side hulls on a single bottom hull (without an inner-bottom) for new construction and add on the sub-atmospheric pressure in the ullage. Analysis to date indicates that this design concept can provide equivalent cargo loss protection at reduced cost without introducing risk elements or uncertainties. The underpressure approach in this proposed technology uses a closed loop vapor control system that prevents or drastically minimizes emission of crude oil vapor as well.
Read SNAME/WMTC paper – Husain, et.al WMTC 2009 No 42 012309
Business Address:
M H Systems, Inc. 150 Solace Court Encinitas, CA 92024
Phone: +1 858 688 8068 Email: info@ballastwatersolution.com