ACTON, MASS – (January 4, 2007) – Ecochlor, Inc. announced today that the company has been issued a patent in Korea for its Ecochlor Chlorine Dioxide Ballast Water Treatment System, developed over the last four years to remove unwanted organisms in ballast water. The patents disclose the apparatuses and methods of a ballast water treatment system that includes a control system and a ballast tank system whereby the control system controls the concentration of a biocide in the ballast tank system. The patents further cover the use of chlorine dioxide as the biocide for the treatment of ballast water.

According to Ecochlor President Tom Perlich, “We are pleased that this key patent has issued, and we look forward to the issuance of our other patents pending in the U.S. and around the world.” Ecochlor has developed proprietary ballast water treatment systems that have been specifically designed to safely and economically eliminate the worldwide transfer of aquatic invasive species. These foreign invaders pose severe environmental, economic and public health issues and are now a major international concern. For over a hundred years, oceangoing vessels have been designed to carry ballast water to facilitate stability and safe maneuverability. Since the 1970’s, however, 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 U.S. a number of states have passed, or are in the process of passing, laws mandating the treatment of ballast water.

About Ecochlor

Ecochlor has developed a proprietary state-of-the-art ballast water treatment system to provide a global solution to the transfer of aquatic invasive species. Ecochlor’s system, the Ecochlor Ballast Water Treatment System, is patented in the U.S., Australia, Singapore and Korea and other patents are pending in the U.S. and internationally. Ecochlor Systems provide the shipping industry with a cost effective, environmentally acceptable treatment system, which provides immediate compliance with all enacted and proposed standards and regulations. Ecochlor’s in-house experts and team of strategic partners not only supply complete design and fabrication of the Ecochlor Systems, but also marine engineering, naval architecture, chemical treatment expertise, shipboard installation and ongoing technical and regulatory certification support.

Ecochlor is based in the USA with capabilities to install, service and support systems throughout the world.