InvaSave port based BWMS
On April 25th Damen’s award-winning and IMO certified InvaSave ballast water management system (BWMS) received its world premiere in front of an invited audience courtesy of Groningen Seaports at the harbour of Delfzijl and Eemshaven, The Netherlands. This marks the culmination of a seven-year programme to develop an effective mobile BWMS for use in ports.
The premiere was a joint presentation between Damen Shipyards, the designated operator MariFlex and Groningen Shipyards, as well as Royal Wagenborg. This was the first time that the InvaSave has been used by a commercial operator. The newly launched MV Egbert Wagenborg was brought alongside a quay and the containerised InvaSave 300 mounted on a barge in front of the bow. Ship-to-ship operator MariFlex then quickly connected the vessel and InvaSave using a convenient standard hose connection. The ballast water was then pumped out of the ship and passed through the InvaSave for treatment before being released into the harbour.
From the drinks reception
The operation was witnessed by representatives from port operators and authorities, ship owners and other maritime organisations. Anneke Schäfer, Director of Nature and Environment Federation Groningen, gave a speech welcoming the arrival of this new technology before officially turning it on. While the treatment process was taking place, the guests were also entertained by a water jet flyboard performing acrobatics in the harbour.
Philip Rabe, responsible for InvaSave sales at Damen, commented: “We’re delighted that the Damen InvaSave is finally operational in a commercial environment. It is a unique product and, in many cases, it enables ports to offer vessel owners a viable and cost-effective alternative to retrofitting on-board systems. And, in the event of failure of an onboard system, ports can offer owners a means by which they can access ballast water treatment at short notice, ensuring minimal downtime.”
Another view of the InvaSave port based BWMS
The IMO-approved Damen InvaSave is the world’s first external ballast water treatment unit designed primarily for use in ports. The system receives ballast water from inbound vessels and treats it to IMO D-2 standard to eliminate potentially invasive marine micro-organisms. It can also deliver water treated to the same standard to outbound vessels. Its mobile, containerised format means that it can be operated from the dockside or from onboard a vessel alongside.
The new unit is now ready for operations at the harbour of Delfzijl and Eemshaven for vessels either without, or with malfunctioning, onboard BWTS capability. MariFlex also plans to have a second operational in Rotterdam ahead of the September implementation of the IMO Ballast Water Management Convention.
Damen Shipyards Group
Damen Shipyards Group operates 33 shipbuilding and repair yards, employing 9,000 people worldwide. Damen has delivered more than 6,000 vessels in more than 100 countries and delivers some 180 vessels annually to customers worldwide. Based on its unique, standardised ship-design concept Damen is able to guarantee consistent quality.
Damen’s focus on standardisation, modular construction and keeping vessels in stock leads to short delivery times, low ‘total cost of ownership’, high resale values and reliable performance. Furthermore, Damen vessels are based on thorough R&D and proven technology.
Damen offers a wide range of products, including tugs, workboats, naval and patrol vessels, high speed craft, cargo vessels, dredgers, vessels for the offshore industry, ferries, pontoons and superyachts.
For nearly all vessel types Damen offers a broad range of services, including maintenance, spare parts delivery, training and the transfer of (shipbuilding) know-how. Damen also offers a variety of marine components, such as nozzles, rudders, anchors, anchor chains and steel works.
In addition to ship design and shipbuilding, Damen Shiprepair & Conversion has a worldwide network of 17 repair and conversion yards with dry docks ranging up to 420 x 80 metres. Conversion projects range from adapting vessels to today’s requirements and regulations to the complete conversion of large offshore structures. DSC completes around 1,350 repair and maintenance jobs annually.
