Knutsen BWMS gains USCG Type Approval

The Coast Guard Marine Safety Center has issued the 38th U.S. Coast Guard Ballast Water Management System Type Approval Certificate to Knutsen Ballast Water AS after a detailed review of the manufacturer’s type approval application determined the system met the requirements of 46 CFR 162.060.

The treatment principle of the KBAL BWMS is based on using a pressure vacuum reactor in combination with UV radiation at intake and discharge. The USCG approval covers two models with maximum treatment rated capacities of 400 cubic meters/h and 3,000 cubic meters/h.

According to Knutsen, the BWMS uses a technology that it has developed, patented and installed on several shuttle tankers.

The pressure vacuum reactor working in combination with a vertical ballast water drop line, ensures a low temperature boiling condition that eliminates the majority of the organisms. Any remaining bacteria are effectively eliminated by a UV chamber mounted down stream of the pressure vacuum reactor.

Due to the highly effective and compact pressure vacuum reactor, the system does not need any filters nor chemicals, hence a minimum foot print is ensured.

The KBAL control software, says Knutsen, allows the operator to switch effortlessly between worldwide mode and IMOeco mode. For port state authorities the system will easily generate a report documenting that ballast water operations are compliant and have been performed in accordance with the regulations.