Ballast Water Treatment System (BWTS) Providers

February 5, 2025

With strict international regulations like the IMO Ballast Water Management Convention and U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) requirements, selecting the right BWTS provider is essential for shipowners. A well-designed BWTS not only ensures regulatory compliance but also helps avoid costly delays, fines, and operational inefficiencies. Consider these factors when choosing a provider:

✔️ Regulatory Approvals
Ensure the system has both IMO and USCG approvals. Some systems meet only one standard, which can limit your ship’s global operational flexibility.

✔️ Technology Type
BWTS technologies include UV disinfection, chemical treatment, and electrochlorination. Choose a system that best suits your ship’s operational profile, water conditions, and environmental regulations.

✔️ Capacity and Scalability
Select a system that can handle the ship’s ballast water capacity efficiently. It should also be scalable for potential future upgrades or vessel changes.

✔️ Ease of Installation and Maintenance
A system with minimal installation complexity can save on retrofitting time and costs. Additionally, look for solutions that require minimal downtime and routine maintenance.

✔️ Support and Service Network
Providers with a strong global service network can quickly address maintenance needs, spare parts availability, and system troubleshooting, ensuring uninterrupted operations.

✔️ Energy Efficiency
Since BWTS can draw considerable energy, choose a system designed to minimize power consumption without compromising treatment effectiveness.

ShipUniverse: Ballast Water Treatment System (BWTS) Providers
Company Name	Description
Alfa Laval	Alfa Laval offers the PureBallast system, one of the first BWTS solutions to be approved by both the IMO and USCG. The system uses advanced UV treatment to effectively neutralize invasive species in ballast water. It is optimized for high-flow rates and low maintenance, making it suitable for a wide range of vessels.
Evoqua Water Technologies	Evoqua provides the SeaCURE BWTS, which uses filtration and electrochlorination to treat ballast water. It is ideal for ships operating in marine and brackish water conditions. With extensive experience in water treatment, Evoqua ensures reliable performance and compliance with global standards.
Panasonic	Panasonic’s BWTS solution employs a combination of filtration and UV disinfection to meet stringent regulatory requirements. The system is designed for energy efficiency and is particularly well-suited for vessels with limited onboard power availability.
GloEn-Patrol	GloEn-Patrol, developed by Hyundai Heavy Industries, uses multi-stage filtration and UV sterilization to meet both IMO and USCG standards. The system offers a compact design and low power consumption, making it popular for retrofitted and newbuild ships alike.
Wärtsilä	Wärtsilä offers the Aquarius BWTS series, which includes both UV and electrochlorination options. Their systems are highly adaptable to different water salinities and ship sizes, ensuring compliance even in challenging operating environments.
Optimarin	Optimarin was the first to install a fully approved BWTS solution. Their UV-based treatment system is known for its modularity and ease of installation. Optimarin focuses heavily on innovation and has extensive experience with retrofitting older vessels.
Trojan Marinex	Trojan Marinex specializes in UV-based ballast water treatment systems designed for high performance in cold, fresh, and marine waters. Their systems are compact and energy-efficient, offering seamless integration for vessels with limited space.
DESMI	DESMI’s CompactClean BWTS is known for its small footprint and ease of installation. The system uses filtration and UV disinfection to deliver high performance with minimal operational costs. DESMI provides strong after-sales support with a global service network.
Ecochlor	Ecochlor’s chemical injection BWTS is designed for vessels with long ballast water retention times. The system is simple to operate and requires low power consumption, making it ideal for large tankers and bulk carriers.
Wilhelmsen Nalfleet	Wilhelmsen’s Nalfleet BWTS offers a unique combination of chemical dosing and treatment monitoring. Their solution is tailored to meet varying ballast conditions and is backed by Wilhelmsen’s extensive maritime service network.