High-capacity BWTS commissioned on 318,000 dwt VLCC

Los Angeles headquartered N.E.I. Treatment Systems reports a major ballast water treatment milestone: the successful commissioning during sea trial of the world’s highest capacity BWTS installed and operating anywhere in the world.

N.E.I. says that last monthI, a 6,350 cu.m per hour capacity Venturi Oxygen Stripping (VOS) Ballast Water Treatment System (BWTS) was successfully commissioned during sea trial of a VLCC built by shipbuilder Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries (HSHI) of South Korea for Samco Shipholding Pte. Ltd. of Singapore. Ballast water treatment results were verified by ABS, Marshall Islands Registry, the shipyard, and the shipowner.

The VOS-6000 BWTS was manufactured and supplied by N.E.I. licensee Samgong VOS Co., Ltd. of South Korea, and was the first of four BWTS supplied by Samgong for four 318,000 dwt Samco VLCCs being built at HSHI.

The installation and commissioning of the VOS-6000 was accomplished on schedule and to the exacting quality standards of HSHI.

N.E.I. CEO Jon Slangerup commented: “This is another key milestone for N.E.I.’s VOS System and for Samgong, our licensee and strategic partner in South Korea. This puts to rest the question of whether or not there is commercial technology capable and certified to handle the BWTS capacity requirements of the world’s largest ships. N.E.I., Samgong, and our Japanese licensee Mitsubishi Kakoki Kaisha, working as a team, have built and installed VOS Systems on tankers, bulk carriers and container vessels, including the largest BWT systems operating aboard VLCCs and Bulkers anywhere in the world. With eighteen major projects currently in work, and a significant pipeline of projects in queue, the significant investment we have made in developing and commercializing the VOS System is beginning to pay off.”

Added Samgong President Jin Seok Zong: “The commissioning of the VLCC vessel for HSHI is a proud moment and accomplishment for our VOS Team. As a shipowner, Samco is demonstrating great commitment and foresight in acting ahead of the implementation timetable of the IMO’s Ballast Water Management Convention, helping to ensure the commercial availability and proven effectiveness of our type-approved VOS BWTS solution. This initial accomplishment gives us the additional experience and confidence to move forward in the rapidly emerging marketplace for VOS Ballast Water Management Systems.”

About N.E.I. Treatment Systems, LLC

N.E.I. is a privately held company headquartered in Los Angeles, California and has been in business since 1997.It manufactures, sells, distributes and services its patented Venturi Oxygen Stripping (VOS) BWTS solutions through a network of licensee, sales and services partnerships in fifteen countries around the world. N.E.I. has licensed its proprietary technology to strategic partners Mitsubishi Kakoki Kaisha, Ltd. of Japan and Samgong Co., Ltd. of Korea. In addition to having the exclusive rights to build and sell the VOS System within the Japanese and Korean markets, respectively, both Mitsubishi and Samgong manufacture VOS Systems sold by N.E.I. to its global customers.

August 17, 2011