Ecochlor, Inc. and Matson Navigation Co., Inc. announced that the two companies are collaborating to verify the effectiveness of Ecochlor's patented Ballast Water Treatment System that has been designed to safely and economically eliminate unwanted aquatic species from ballast water. The system will be installed in the next few months on the M/V Moku Pahu, which is managed by Matson on behalf of Hawaiian Sugar and Transportation Cooperative.
"Chlorine dioxide has been used for 50 years to treat industrial water and drinking water, but has never been used to treat seawater. We have conducted extensive research at the University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography, independent testing laboratories and aboard ship to prove the effectiveness of chlorine dioxide against invasive species, and have worked over the last four years to develop the Ecochlor System, designed specifically for marine applications. We are pleased to be working with Matson over the upcoming months to demonstrate the effectiveness of our systems on a large commercial bulker in the Pacific Ocean."
Ecochlor also has an operating system on Atlantic Container Line's Atlantic Compass, which operates between the East Coast of the United States and Northern Europe.
Jack Sullivan, Vice President, Vessel Operations of Matson, adds, "We are proud to be working with Ecochlor to deal with this environmental issue. Over the last few years we have carefully examined other technologies and believe Ecochlor's can set the performance standard at reasonable cost for the industry. The Moku Pahu is an integrated tug and barge (ITB) designed specifically to carry raw sugar from Hawaii to the U.S. mainland, and is an excellent choice for an international demonstration of the Ecochlor System."
The worldwide transfer of aquatic invasive species poses severe environmental, economic and public health issues and is now a major international concern. For over 100 years, oceangoing vessels have been designed to carry ballast water to facilitate stability and safe maneuverability. Since the 1970s, with the advent of larger, faster ships and the globalization of trade, the amount of ballast water being used and discharged around the world has increased dramatically.
International standards requiring the treatment of ballast water are currently being adopted, and in the United States a number of states have passed, or are in the process of passing, laws mandating the treatment of ballast water.
Source: Ecochlor, Inc.
