USCG Grants AMS to Evoqua for SeaCURE BWM

The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) has granted alternate management system (AMS) acceptance of Evoqua Water Technologies’ SeaCURE ballast water management system for use in fresh, brackish and sea water providing ship owners with a type approved and AMS accepted solution that can be deployed in any trade lane worldwide. 

Following a rigorous review process, SeaCURE has been accepted for use as an AMS by the USCG. AMS acceptance means that vessel owners and operators are now permitted to use the SeaCURE ballast water treatment system in U.S. waters. 

SeaCURE has previously been typed approved by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and BSH, the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency of Germany (Bundesamt für Seeschifffahrt und Hydrographie). Evoqua also will apply for and undergo thorough testing required toward full USCG type approval. Currently, no ballast water treatment system has full USCG type approval.

SeaCURE is an efficient, reliable, low cost to operate ballast water management system based on proven, widely deployed Chloropac® electrochlorination technology from Electrocatalytic, now an Evoqua brand.

SeaCURE eliminates the need for storing or handling chemicals onboard due to in-situ generation of sodium hypochlorite from the natural salinity in sea water. Sodium hypochlorite biocide generation in a side stream taken off the ballast water main minimizes footprint making it an ideal choice for retrofits. Patented intake filter technology injects biocide into ballast seawater before it reaches the large surface filter intakes to reduce the growth of marine organisms that can clog the filters. 

“AMS acceptance of SeaCURE builds on the exceptional results gained during testing by the International Maritime Organization and BSH,” said SeaCURE Product Manager David Palmer. “With more than a half century experience of Electrocatalytic serving the marine industry and a growing list of regulators approving and accepting the operational results of SeaCURE technology, we are confident as we move forward with the USCG type approval process.” 

The SeaCURE system is based on the tested Chloropac marine growth prevention system (MGPS), which uses electrochlorination biocide generation and injection treatment for sea water cooling systems. More than 2,500 Chloropac systems have been fitted to ships and offshore rigs globally over the past 30 years. 

One of the added benefits of SeaCURE is the option for the system to operate in MGPS mode when it is not being used for ballast water treatment. MGPS, such as that offered through SeaCURE, can significantly reduce the costs associated with sea water cooling system anode replacement, as well as the cleaning and overhaul of coolers, valves and pipework, in turn enabling permanently clean cooling systems to work at optimum efficiency.