US ballast water treatment system gains USCG type-approval

The US Coast Guard has granted type-approval for the Hyde Marine Guardian-US BWMS. The Hyde Guardian-US BWMS uses filtration and ultraviolet disinfection to treat ships’ ballast water. The design of the system closely mirrors the existing Hyde Guardian-Gold product, and Hyde Marine states that customers can easily upgrade their existing equipment to meet the new treatment standard.

The type-approval was expected following Hyde Marine’s submission for USCG type-approval early this year. In March 2020, Hyde Marine* announced it was awarded type-approval by the Norwegian Administration through Norway’s recognised organisation, DNV GL, under the newly revised Ballast Water Management Code, also known as MEPC.300(72). DNV GL was also the independent laboratory that undertook the USCG testing in accordance with the requirements contained in 46 CFR 162.060.

Certification under this regulatory regime ensures the Hyde Guardian-US is now available for sale and installation on vessels around the world and will remain so even after the phase-out of the initial IMO type-approval regime on 28 October 2020.

The USCG type-approval is the final hurdle of testing and regulatory regimes for the Hyde Guardian-US BWMS. The redacted version of the USCG type-approval certificate may be seen here and states that Hyde Guardian-US BWMS can be installed in hazardous locations on US flag vessels and on foreign flag vessels where administration allows.

* Hyde Marine is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Calgon Carbon Corporation. Calgon Carbon is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the publicly listed company Kuraray Co, which is a manufacture and/or distribution of innovative coal-, wood- and coconut-based activated carbon products.