Development of ballast water treatment system based on electrochemical disinfection technology

International Maritime Organization adopted the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments in 2004 to prevent the transfer of aquatic organisms through ballast water. The Convention is expected to be applied in 2010. About 30 ballast water treatment systems are developing now in the world using the technologies of mechanical separation, micro-agitation, ultraviolet, ozone, chemicals or electrochemical disinfections. This paper considers the matter of principle mechanism, overview of the system, installation on shipboard, shipboard test results and risk of active substances for the Electro-Cleen which is a ballast water treatment system based on electrochemical disinfection technology. This Electro-Cleen treatment system was granted IMO basic approval as a ballast water treatment system using active substances in March 2006, and final approval in October 2008. The Type Approval Certificate was issued in December 2008 by the Government of Republic of Korea. The Electro-Cleen system consists of electrolysis module, rectifier, heat-exchanger, power distributor, Control PC, neutraliser and several sensors. An electrolysis module is installed in the middle of the ballast pipe to disinfect micro-organisms in the ballast water. Land-based tests with the barge ship and shipboard tests with the 8300 GT M/V Yokohama and 27,000 DWT M/V Greenwing have already been conducted. These tests confirmed that the Electro-Cleen system satisfies all of the IMO standards and is suitable for installation in new and existing ships.