Baltic wastewater compliance for Gotland vessels
According to MEPC resolution 227(64), wastewater from vessels in the Baltic Sea will need to have nutrients – including nitrogen and phosphorous – removed before it is discharged. The two membrane bioreactors on each of the new vessels will therefore have nutrient removal systems added, ensuring compliance once the Special Area is in effect.
Rederi AB Gotland’s new vessels will each equipped with two membrane bioreactors, solids screening, 233 vacuum toilets, two buffering tanks, two macerating food waste feeding stations, and one bone shredder.
Mats Riska, product manager, Evac, said: “Nutrient removal is a complicated biological and chemical process. Thanks to Evac’s systems this process can be fully automated so that only a basic process understanding is required from our customers.”
The MBR units will also feature touchscreen control panels, following an upgrade from mechanical switches in early 2015. The new system offers data logging for all parameters, with users able check process values and make logged data available to Evac for servicing.
The entry into force date of the Special Area for passenger ship sewage remains under discussion at IMO, but is currently expected to be 1 June 2019 for newbuilds and 1 June 2021 for existing vessels.
