Glosten, MSI, and Alfa Laval Deliver Ballast Modules

Marine Systems Inc. (MSI) delivered a pair of first-of-its-kind modular ballast water treatment units, specially designed for tank barge and ship operations.  The Ballast Treatment System Deck Module – or “Ballast Module” – combines expertise from three key players in the marine community: MSI, Glosten, and Alfa Laval.  Responding to requests from vessel operators, MSI turned to Seattle-based naval architecture and marine engineering consultancy, Glosten, to develop the design.  Alfa Laval provided PureBallast 3.1 treatment systems, Filtrex high efficiency filters, and expertise from hundreds of installations.  The resulting modules, built at the Foss Seattle Shipyard complete with lighting, ventilation, and integrated controls, were shipped ready for plug-and-play.

Each Ballast Module, packing a treatment capacity of 1,000 m3/hr within a twenty-foot shipping container footprint, is ABS and US Coast Guard approved for hazardous area installations.  The efficient module reduces the technical demands on busy shipyards during traditionally jam-packed shipyard periods.  Rather than juggle the independent components and vendors required for a traditional ballast water treatment system installation, shipyards can instead focus on fabricating a few well defined interfaces and foundation system.  Each purchased module comes pre-approved by USCG and ABS, is fully tested prior to shipment, and includes integration support from MSI and Glosten engineers.

“We’re pleased to see this project delivered to our customers,” remarked Kevin Oakley, Product Support Manager at MSI.  “Reliability and efficiency are core values of MSI, and the Ballast Module is the living embodiment of those values.”

“The demands of the vessel operator drove this design,” said Kevin Reynolds, Principal at Glosten.  “Doing this as a manufactured product ensures that we get it right, every time.”