Miura Co., Ltd., a leading Japanese machinery manufacturer, announced it has successfully completed another major milestone in acquiring U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) type approval for its new ballast water management system. The company already obtained G8 type approval from the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in March 2014, and Alternate Management System (AMS) approval from the USCG in November 2014. With a major environmental test successfully conducted in May 2017, Miura has completed 75 percent of the type approval process, which is the primary method to receive USCG approval. The company is targeting March 2018 for full completion of the process.
Currently, Miura is beginning the implementation phase of a land-based test at the Maritime Environmental Resource Center (MERC), an accredited independent inspection body in the U.S. It will also conduct onboard test in the seas of East Asia.
The HK ballast water management system is aimed at preserving the marine environment. It features a unique, multilayer filter that captures microorganisms measuring 50 µm or larger from the ballast water, and then uses an UV reactor to sterilize them. This technology ensures that 99.99 percent of L-size organisms equal to or larger than 50 µm are captured through the filter, and microorganisms smaller than 50 µm are completely sterilized by UV. Operation can be remotely controlled with ease via a touch panel installed in the vessel’s engine room. Also, Miura supervisors and engineers with a wealth of information realize retrofitting in any ship environment, and have achieved installs and orders for more than 500 ships.
The HK’s filter and UV system are safe for the environment and the ship. Since no chemical or active substances are used, it is unnecessary to supply, administer and inject chemical agents, or use a neutralizer, at the time of ballast water discharge. Additionally, because chemical agents are not involved, there is no risk of affecting the ship with strong oxidization and corrosiveness. Moreover, Miura’s unique technology solves the problem of high-frequency disassembly and cleaning of filters by extending maintenance cycles to 2.5 years. In contrast to filter and competitive UV products, the HK system minimizes the tedious task of maintenance.
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Source: Business Insider
