Hamworthy wins order for new MBR system

The contract calls for a bespoke advanced wastewater management system to be installed onboard the 40,000gt Pearl of Sc

and

inavia, replacing an existing sewage treatment plant that dates back to the vessel’s delivery in 1989.

The first stage of the job is scheduled to be undertaken in January 2011 during the vessel’s docking period, comprising the installation of steelwork materials for a new process, permeate

and

cleaning tanks.

Due to the short dry-dock time, Hamworthy will manufacture the process tank, pump skids

and

pipework in kit form at the Hamworthy Water Systems plant in the UK, to enable it to retrofit through the ship’s existing hatches

and

doorways. It will then be assembled, welded

and

pressure-tested during dry-dock under the supervision of Hamworthy engineers. The remaining equipment will be delivered by April 2011.

Hamworthy Project Manager, Julian Nicholas, said that the MBR would be one of the first new generation Hamworthy Mark IV MBR to be delivered, demonstrating the company’s continuing research

and

development commitment to achieve lower operating costs, less operator intervention

and

to help protect the environment.

“This MBR was sized to utilise the existing structure from the old sewage plant, thus minimising disruption

and

additional work needed by the owner,” he said. “With a bit of ingenuity we have been able to integrate the permeate

and

cleaning tanks with the process tank, making for a more compact installation

and

minimising any disruption.

“Normally the domain of large cruise ships operating in environmentally sensitive areas, advanced water treatment technologies are increasingly finding wider appeal in the commercial freight market. This order demonstrates the way that more

and

more operators are turning to environmentally-friendly technology, ahead of regulations that will have an impact across the passenger ship market.”

Of the 63 ships currently operated by DFDS, the Det Norske Veritas-classed Pearl of Sc

and

inavia operates between Oslo

and

Copenhagen. Rebuilt in 2001, the 178m long ship is one of four passenger ferries owned by the company of similar age

and

class.

DFDS Communications Manager Gert Jakobsen said that it was his underst

and

ing that the project was part of a broader programme to upgrade towards environmentally-friendly technologies. “This is exactly where we need to focus in our investments,” he said.

Based on biological degradation

and

membrane separation, the Hamworthy MBR process aims to achieve the highest quality discharge without requiring any addition or generation of chemicals hazardous to the maritime or shipboard environment. Since introducing its MBR technology in 2000, Hamworthy has supplied over 100 MBR units to a range of new

and

existing cruise ships, ferries, offshore rigs, naval ships,

and

yachts. Some 58 MBR plants are in operation on board 27 cruise ships

and

a further 19 plants are on order for 10 cruise ships in various stages of installation

and

commissioning. Having just completed projects for the

Pacific Sun

and

Pacific Jewel,

the whole of the Carnival Australia cruise fleet is now fitted with Hamworthy’s MBRs.