SERVICES FOR SUPERYACHTS

How Ballast Water Treatment Works

The Alfa Laval PureBallast 3 system treats ballast water to meet international regulations by using a combination of filtration and advanced UV treatment to neutralise invasive species, bacteria, and other organisms. PureBallast 3 performs in the background, running in IMO-regulated waters at just 50% of its potential operating power in most situations. It can be ramped up to full power for the most difficult operating scenarios.

Here’s how the process works:

FILTRATION

During ballasting (when water is taken in), the system first filters out larger particles and organisms in the water. This step reduces the amount of debris and contaminants that could interfere with the UV treatment and improves overall water quality.

UV Treatment

After filtration, the water passes through a reactor where it is exposed to high-intensity UV light. The UV light neutralises microorganisms by disrupting their DNA, preventing reproduction and further spread when discharged into new environments. PureBallast 3 uses enhanced UV transmittance technology to perform efficiently even in low-clarity or brackish waters, treating water at full flow even when UV transmittance is as low as 42%.

Cleaning-In-Place

To maintain high performance, the system has an automatic Cleaning-In-Place (CIP) function that periodically cleans the UV lamps and reactor surfaces. This prevents fouling or scaling buildup that could reduce UV effectiveness, allowing PureBallast 3 to stay efficient without manual cleaning or risk of lamp damage.

Deballasting

When water is discharged (deballasted), the treated water is released back into the sea. In systems with USCG approval, PureBallast 3 ensures that water meets U.S. Coast Guard and IMO standards, making it suitable for discharge in U.S. and internationally regulated waters.

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