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PureBallast, Alfa Laval’s unique and chemical-free system for ballast water treatment, continues to attract high-profile orders for an increasing range of vessels. In recent months, Alfa Laval has received the first PureBallast order for a demanding naval application.
Alfa Laval has further cemented its commercial leadership in ballast water treatment, having sold more than thirty PureBallast systems the last year. One of the most prominent orders is one that involves two PureBallast systems for the Royal Australian Navy, which confirms that PureBallast is fully capable of meeting the strict requirements of naval applications.
The two Australian systems, which will be the first PureBallast installations for naval use, will be fitted aboard the Australian LHD (Landing Helicopter Dock) vessels to be built by Spanish shipyard Navantia Ferrol. Vessels of this type, which allow flexible deployment of smaller land vehicles and helicopters, are of strategic interest as Australia and other nations shift their military focus from territorial defence to international response and peacekeeping operations.
The first PureBallast system for the Royal Australian Navy was delivered in mid-December last year, with the second system to follow in April 2010. Each PureBallast system will have a treatment system flow of 250 m3/h.
A proactive choice
Since naval vessels are exempted from IMO’s pending ballast water treatment requirements, the decision by the Royal Australian Navy to install ballast water treatment systems is a voluntary one. It was made in part to protect Australia’s sensitive coastal environment, which has already been threatened by the invasion of non-native organisms transported via ballast water. Darwin Harbour, for example, was invaded by the South American black-striped mussel in 1999, which necessitated a quarantine and cleanup effort costing over two million USD.
Demanding naval requirements
Environmental issues aside, the selection of PureBallast by the Royal Australian Navy is commercially significant, since it demonstrates PureBallast’s ability to meet the rigorous demands of naval applications. Complying with IMO requirements alone can be difficult, but a ballast water treatment system for naval use must also comply with a detailed list of military and logistical specifications.
“Naval orders are very complex, which means the chosen equipment must be well documented and proven,” says Oscar Mate of Navantia Ferrol, a shipyard specialized in the construction of military vessels. “Before recommending PureBallast to the Royal Australian Navy, we conducted evaluations of several ballast water treatment systems, during which we received excellent support and assistance from Alfa Laval.”
Peter Carlberg, General Manager of Alfa Laval Marine & Diesel, is understandably pleased with the outcome. “The signing of an order for naval use shows that PureBallast’s documentation – as well as its performance – upholds the highest standards,” he says. “With the Royal Australian Navy vessels as a reference, we hope that doors will be opened to other naval projects worldwide.”
Further commercial advances
The order for the Royal Australian Navy is another milestone in establishing Alfa Laval (alfalaval.com) as the leader in ballast water treatment. However, it is just one of several PureBallast orders recently received by the company. Among the other orders is one for a PureBallast 2500 system from Samsung Heavy Industries for the drilling vessel Stena DrillMAX ICE. In 2009 Alfa Laval has made a real break-through on the Japanese market, with 12 system sold in recent months.
PureBallast, which was developed in cooperation with Wallenius Water, has been adopted by a wide range of fleets and has been selected for 80 vessels of varying types and capacities.
For further information, please contact:
Marie Sommar, Marketing Comm
Marine & Diesel Equipment
T:+ 46 8530 656
M: +46 766 45 56 13
E: marie.sommar[.]alfalaval.com
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