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ERMA FIRST Receives IMO Basic Approval for Ballast Water Treatment System

Published Jul 27, 2011 10:36 AM by The Maritime Executive

We are in the proud position to announce that ERMA FIRST Ballast Water Treatment system is coming one step forward to Type Approval.

During the MEPC 62 meeting, which took place during the 11th -15th of July 2011,  the IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee, having considered the recommendations contained in the GESAMP reports of MEPC 62/2/11, agreed to grant BASIC APPROVAL to ERMA FIRST Ballast Water Treatment system.

ERMA FIRST is an advanced electrolysis system with innovative features and excellent performance in any sea environment.

ERMA FIRST distinctive components are comprising of an ingenious filtration, state-of-the-art mechanical separation and advanced electrolytic cells which warrantee a proven, superior performance even in very low salinity waters, cold waters, dirty waters with a very high sediment load, having the capability to exhibit supreme biological efficacy and zero toxicity.

ERMA FIRST represents an ideal solution on board, due to the very low power consumption, compact size, simple installation, offering significant operating/maintenance cost savings and an easy system for crew use.

The Land-Based Tests (performed in the reputable NIOZ – The Royal Netherland Institute for Sea Research) and the first two Shipboard Tests on board M/V COSCO GUANGZHOU (IMO No 9305570), a 9600 TEU container vessel, presented excellent results, reaching discharge limits far below the IMO D-2, revealing a prospective and promising performance even for the stricter US States Certification requirements.

Enforced by the above unique features, ERMA FIRST is promptly coming one big step closer to the Final Approval and Type Approval process.
Having submitted already the Final Approval Dossier to IMO for the next GESAMP examination, ERMA FIRST will be recommended for receiving Final Approval by MEPC 63.

Lloyds Register Classification Society, who are further supervising shipboard Tests, are currently performing the technical appraisal of ERMA FIRST, and will be in position to officially issue the Type Approval on behalf of Hellenic Flag on March 2012.