ACTON, MASS – (September 1, 2010) – Ecochlor, Inc. announced today that the GESAMP-BWWG has recommended that Ecochlor’s application for G9 Final Approval be approved at the Marine Environment Protection Committee meeting (MEPC 61) in September. GESAMP is the international Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Environmental Protection responsible for reviewing and recommending approval of these applications. The application was submitted on Ecochlor’s behalf by the German Federal Maritime Agency, BSH.
IMO G9 is a two step approval process to determine the acceptability of ballast water treatment systems that use active substances in regards to ship safety, human health and the aquatic environment. To make this determination, the GESAMP-BWWG conducts a thorough review of technical and scientific data from laboratory and prototype testing of the ballast water treatment system. The MEPC grants G9 Basic Approval after careful review and recommendation by the GESAMP-BWWG. Ecochlor received Basic Approval in October 2008. G9 Final Approval for ballast water treatment systems using active substances must be obtained from results obtained during extensive land based testing of a commercial scale system. This testing of the Ecochlor system was successfully completed in July 2008 at the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ) in the Netherlands.
Ecochlor is currently conducting the necessary ship board testing to fulfill the requirements for IMO G8 Type Approval. The administration of a member country issues a Type Approval Certificate for successful equipment performance during land based and ship board testing in accordance with IMO G8. Type Approval verifies efficacy, safety, design, construction, operation, and function of the ballast water treatment system. Testing of the Ecochlor Ballast Water Treatment System is taking place aboard the M/V Moku Pahu. The system on the M/V Moku Pahu was installed in 2006. The M/V Moku Pahu, operated by Matson Navigation, is a bulker that caries sugar from Hawaii to the West coast of the US, as well as other bulk cargos to various countries. Type Approval of the Ecochlor System is anticipated in the 1st quarter of 2011.
About Ecochlor
Ecochlor, Inc.,has developed proprietary ballast water treatment systems that have been specifically designed to safely and economically eliminate the worldwide transfer of aquatic invasive species. Ecochlor’s technology is patented, proven, well understood and uniquely competitive. Two commercial systems are currently installed and have been accepted into the USG STEP program: one on the M/V Atlantic Compass, a container cargo/car carrier vessel, and one on the M/V Moku Pahu that carries sugar from Hawaii to the US.
Ecochlor is based in the USA with capabilities to install, service, and support systems throughout the world.