Optimarin puts commitment to filter performance to the test with DNV

NORWAY's Optimarin ballast water treatment system has been subjected to a rigorous testing in the Yellow Sea off South Korea in conjunction with the classification society Det Norske Veritas (DNV).

A filter test rig was placed on a barge at sea. Each filter was tested for two hours a day over three days, with a test log overseen by DNV. Samples of seawater were taken at the start and end of each filter's individual testing periods, said the Optimarin press statement.

The Yellow Sea was singled out because of its high nitrate levels, which lead to algae blooms. Algae concentrations can reach millions of cells per millimetre of seawater, a big challenge for filters, said the statement.

The initiative, understood to be unique for a ballast water treatment system supplier, saw Optimarin make a substantial investment to put its three leading filter suppliers - Boll & Kirch, Filtersafe and Filtrex - to the test.

The tests were designed to challenge the reliability of the ballast water treatment system component and determine reliability.

"If the filter clogs, or is severely compromised in any way, it can effectively halt operations for an entire vessel," said Optimarin marketing director Tore Andersen.

Shipowners and operators have expressed concern about such risks, so this is our way of demonstrating how good our filters perform under the most demanding conditions," Mr Andersen said.

The Boll & Kirch, Filtersafe and Filtrex filters that were put to the test, all of which have capacities of 500m3/h, were placed on a moveable barge anchored out at sea. Each filter was then tested for two hours a day over three days, cleaning and processing large volumes of seawater, to ensure that they all operated under the same environmental conditions.

Said Optimarin chief technical officer Kurt Steinsvik: "Although the water conditions were prone to rapid changes, the filters coped extremely well and maintained complete performance integrity. The suppliers were happy to take part in our stringent testing, performed with DNV, and their faith in their own products has certainly been rewarded."

Mr Steinsvik said he believes that the test results can help the group of suppliers work in unison with his firm, sharing information to evaluate performance and get the very best out of one another.

"This kind of shared operational experience is most valuable. It assists in determining optimal operating parameters with various filters, and is a real platform for future development," Mr Steinvik said.