Innovative approaches to automation of ship's ballast water treatment and disinfection processes

Abstract

This research introduces innovative technology for ship's ballast water treatment and disinfection that meets the International Maritime Organization's D-2 water quality standard requirements. The innovative approach to ballast water processing has been developed and validated by the research team at the Danube Institute of the National University "Odesa Maritime Academy" as part of the state-funded research project No. 0124U004399, supported by the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine. Environmental monitoring of the Black Sea, conducted by the international scientific community in 2019, revealed a critical deterioration in the state of the marine ecosystem. Over the five-year observation period, a threefold increase in the level of pollution of the marine environment was recorded. The study emphasizes the critical role of ballast water in modern maritime navigation, particularly its significance for vessel stability and operational safety. However, the presence of numerous marine organisms in ballast water poses significant multidimensional challenges, ranging from threats to ecological balance to economic losses and sanitary-epidemiological risks. The transfer of ballast water between different geographical locations facilitates the invasion of non-indigenous microorganisms into new ecosystems, potentially leading to the destruction of local biota and causing substantial economic losses in coastal regions. The developed experimental facility implements a comprehensive approach to ballast water treatment through the sequential application of chemical, ionization, and mechanical processing methods. A key objective is the creation of an automated control system for the experimental ballast water treatment equipment, designed to ensure precise monitoring of technological parameters and optimize laboratory testing efficiency.
The developed multifunctional ballast water management system is designed for large-tonnage vessels and fully complies with D-2 standard requirements. Experimental studies have confirmed the high efficiency of the proposed technology in eliminating pathogenic microorganisms and purifying ballast water, as documented by laboratory test results. Currently, the system is undergoing type approval and certification procedures in accordance with international standards.