• System recognized as a promising technology to battle unwanted migration of aquatic nuisance species
FORT WASHINGTON, PA, Aug. 25, 2009 -- The S/R American Progress, a 575-ft.-long, 30,000-gross-ton, double-hull U.S. flag tank ship, operated by SeaRiver Maritime Inc., has been accepted into the United States Coast Guard's Shipboard Technology Evaluation Program (STEP) to demonstrate the use of and collect data on the effectiveness of the Severn Trent De Nora BALPURE® ballast water treatment system. In its acceptance letter, the Coast Guard stated the ship "has an accepted means of compliance with Ballast Water Management regulations found in U.S. Code of Federal Regulations, title 33, part 151.2035."
The United States Coast Guard established the STEP program in 2004 to promote the development of alternatives to ballast water exchange as a means of preventing invasive species from entering U.S. waters through ships' ballast water. STEP participation is available to all international and U.S. domestic vessels subject to the Coast Guard's Ballast Water Management regulations, 33 CFR, part 151, subparts C and D.
BALPURE is a patented system that generates biocides, meters and analyzes the residual level of both biocides and neutralizing agents and logs the performance of the overall ballast water treatment system. With international, national, state and local environmental agencies worldwide taking action to regulate the discharge of ballast water arriving in ships coming from international ports, the BALPURE system is being proven as an effective, economical and high-capacity device to treat this water, with no adverse effects on the environment. Third party testing of the BALPURE system has confirmed effluent quality that meets proposed International Maritime Organization (IMO) ballast water standards.
The BALPURE system has achieved a number of certification milestones, including certification from the American Bureau of Shipping and classification as EX-proof in 2007. In addition, Severn Trent De Nora received a grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in 2006 for United States third party validation and recognition.
About Severn Trent De Nora, LLC
Severn Trent De Nora, LLC (www.severntrentdenora.com) is a joint venture offering a solid foundation to support marine and offshore industrial water disinfection needs by drawing upon the strength and global resources of Severn Trent Services, Fort Washington, Pa. (www.severntrentservices.com) and Gruppo De Nora, Milan, Italy (www.denora.it). Severn Trent De Nora offers the benefits of enhanced technical solutions and a greater range of services by combining the seawater disinfection capabilities of both companies. Severn Trent De Nora offers products to serve marine wastewater treatment applications and the seawater disinfection needs for the following applications: power generation, desalination facilities, coastal industry, offshore oil and gas facilities, general marine, cruise vessel industry and navies worldwide.
###