Austevoll shipowner Hordafor is investing in ballast water treatment to become an even more competitive and responsible co-operation partner within the aquaculture and fishery industries.
While the international ballast water management convention has been implemented to prevent the spread of potentially harmful aquatic organisms via ballast water from vessels in international traffic, there is no such regulation for ships only operating between Norwegian waters and the open sea.
Although Hordafor IV operates exclusively Norwegian domestic waters, owner Hordafor has nevertheless chosen to order a ballast water treatment system from Norwegian company PG Flow Solutions, a specialist in liquid handling and pump systems for marine applications.
Hordafor is a leading player within handling and processing of by-products from the Norwegian aquaculture and fisheries industries. The company has its own vessels for shipping by-product and finished products such as marine oils and proteins.
Hordafor IV is used to collect silage from by-products from the aquaculture industry. As the vessel is being equipped with a ballast water treatment system, it can now also sail in international waters.
“We want to be a leader within biosafety and do what we can to optimise both marine and fish health on behalf of our clients. If treatment of ballast water can contribute towards improved biosecurity along the Norwegian coastline, it will be a good investment in both the environment and our business,” said Karsten Østervold, fleet manager at Hordafor.
“We have six such vessels, and they all sail along the Norwegian coast. We install a ballast water treatment system on board one of the ships to evaluate the positive effects it can create. Biosecurity is important to us, which is why we invest a seven-figure sum in this.”
PG Flow Solutions will supply its IMO-approved PG-Hyde ballast water treatment system to Hordafor IV. The system is based on UV-technology in combination with automatic, self-cleaning filters. The PG-Hyde treatment system sterilises the ballast water during both ballasting and de-ballasting.
“Ballast water systems regulate the intake, discharge and treatment of ballast water and sediments, and is therefore an important environmental measure to prevent the spread of foreign species through ballast water from vessels that sail in international waters,” explained PG Flow Solutions sales manager Are Hjertvik.
“The fact that Hordafor, for biosecurity reasons, wants to explore and apply the same mindset to a vessel that sails along the Norwegian coastline is a great initiative. We are a proud supplier to Hordafor.”
