Cathelco aims for USCG Type Approval for BWT System
Tests will be carried out under FDA/CMFDA methodology, this is where life forms are judged as being living or dead. This is the standard that the US Coast Guard insists must be applied to BWT systems.
Robert Field, Cathelco’s technical director, said: “Our system has already received IMO Type Approval and AMS Certification from the USCG.”
“We are pushing ahead with sales, but recognise that is it essential to attain USCG Type Approval as soon as possible.”
The tests will also meet the expected revised standards of the new draft of the IMO G8 Guidelines.
Cathelco has approached Marine Eco Analytics (MEA-nl) to carry out the new testing programme. The facility is in the process of obtaining USCG approval and has the advantage of being in a coastal location where tests using marine, fresh and brackish water can be performed in real world conditions.
Mr Smith, sales director at Cathelco, continued: “Many ship owners are still undecided about which BWT systems to purchase for their vessels.
“Clearly, potential customers will have greater confidence in a system that has attained USCG Type Approval and we are committed to achieving this within the next 12 months.”
The Cathelco BWT system is based on a combination of filtration and UV technology. It automatically adjusts to different sea water qualities and uses a UVT sensor to measure UV light transmittance (the amount of UV radiation actually passing through the seawater).
This calculation of the UV dose aims to ensure that power is used economically.
“At the same time, testing to the expected revised IMO G8 Guidelines provides the assurance that the system meets all the necessary performance criteria, resulting in publicly available data which enables systems to be compared more easily,” concluded Mr Smith.
The most recent installation of the system is on board the Harvey Stone (Hull 234) an offshore vessel built by the Eastern Shipbuilding Group Inc., for Harvey Gulf International Marine.
