Alfa Laval’s deckhouse BWTS awarded DNV design approval

A containerised Alfa Laval PureBallast 3 Ex ballast water treatment system (BWTS) for installation on deck has been issued with a type approval design certificate by DNV.

Alfa Laval said that the first design approval for a ‘plug-and-play’ BWTS installation on a ship’s weather deck should save time and money in the final approval process.

The deck-mounted system is required on many modern tankers because they lack suitable under-deck space. The type approval applies not only to the BWTS itself, but also to the enclosure and the system’s installation. The container, as well as its internal systems and connections, have been designed specifically for deck-mounted operation, with adequate protection to ensure safety and longevity.

The DNV approval means that the PureBallast 3 Ex will be signed off in advance, leaving only the mounting of the container and its connections to the vessel to be validated, Alfa Laval said.

Peter Sahlén, head of Alfa Laval PureBallast, explained: “Alfa Laval quickly recognised the importance of having a standardised and purpose-built solution for installing PureBallast 3 Ex on deck. Likewise, DNV recognised that this would require a unique approach to the approval – given that the solution falls outside traditional class definitions.

“Working together, we’ve achieved a design approval that encompasses the reinforcements, insulation, ventilation, and other elements that protect ballast water treatment system performance and lifetime. Our deckhouse design ensures conditions that keep PureBallast 3 Ex within its design limits, from the interior climate to factors like wind and wave loads,” Sahlén continued. “It may be a containerised solution, but it’s by no means a standard container.”