Ballast Water Treatment Systems (BWTS).

Ballast Water Treatment System (BWTS) is a system designed to remove and destroy/inactive biological organisms (zooplankton, algae, bacteria) fro ballast water. Ballast water treatment is still evolving technology with an ever-growing number of manufacturers. This means that there is limited inservice experience for the systems being offered and there is a general understanding that no single system is suitable for all ship types. See also AQUARIUS ballast water treatment plants.

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Most Ballast Water Treatment Systems use a two-stage approach, involving a form of mechanical separation (1st stage) followed by physical or chemical treatment (2nd stage). The two most common technologies are Ultra-Violet (UV) based systems and Electro-Chlorination (EC) systems. UV systems use physical UV radiation as secondary treatment, where electro-chlorination makes use of a chemical 'active substance' to inactivate biological organisms. Both systems typically employ filtration as mechanical first phase treatment.

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UV based BWTS (more on UV treatment):

Diagram of a UV-based ballast water treatment system showing filter, UV reactor, control panel, flow meter, and power supply components.

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Electro-Chlorination BWTS:

Diagram of an electro-chlorination ballast water treatment system showing filter, electro-chlorination cells, dosing tank, mixer kit, control panel, and neutralisation components.