DNV has issued a Type Approval Design Certificate for Alfa Laval PureBallast 3 Ex deckhouse solutions. This is a major achievement, representing the first design approval for the installation of ballast water treatment systems on the weather deck. For customers and system integrators, it will mean time and money saved in the final approval process on board.

Approved enclosure and internal installation
Placing ballast water treatment systems in a deck-mounted enclosure is necessary on most modern tankers, which lack a pump room or other suitable internal space. While the system type approval applies to the ballast water treatment system itself, both the enclosure and the installation within it must also be approved by a classification society. The DNV Type Approval Design Certificate means PureBallast 3 Ex deckhouse deliveries will have this approval in advance.

“Alfa Laval quickly recognized the importance of having a standardized and purpose-built solution for installing PureBallast 3 Ex on deck,” says Peter Sahlén, Head of Alfa Laval PureBallast. “Likewise, DNV recognized that this would require a unique approach to the approval – given that the solution falls outside traditional class definitions. Working together, we’ve achieved a design approval that encompasses the reinforcements, insulation, ventilation and other elements that protect ballast water treatment system performance and lifetime.”

“When dealing with a new type of installation that may not fit within existing class definitions, it is essential to make sure that the solution conforms to the same rigorous standards,” says Endre Lajord, Project Manager, DNV. “Installing ballast water treatment systems on the weather deck is a new area, and we were very pleased that Alfa Laval chose to work with us on this design approval. As the world’s leading class, we are always ready to help forward-looking companies like Alfa Laval to deliver unique solutions. We do this by giving their customers the necessary trust and confidence through the DNV class approval process.”

Simplifying final approval on board
In practice, the design approval for PureBallast 3 Ex deckhouse solutions will greatly reduce the time and effort needed from system integrators – and the implications for shipowners. For the final onboard approval, only the mounting of the enclosure on deck and its interconnections with the vessel will need to be evaluated by the classification society.

“Having class approval for our design specifications makes the deckhouse essentially a plug-and-play solution for installation on the weather deck,” says Sahlén.

Containerized – but far from a standard container
Alfa Laval’s approved design includes the deckhouse enclosure itself, as well as the system’s internal installation on fixed rails and all of the internal piping and electrical connections. Its specifications go far beyond those of standard containers, which lack the protective features and longevity needed to ensure performance over the vessel lifetime.

“Our deckhouse design ensures conditions that keep PureBallast 3 Ex within its design limits, from the interior climate to factors like wind and wave loads,” says Sahlén. “It may be a containerized solution, but it’s by no means a standard container.”