NORWEGIAN shipowner Hordafor is investing in ballast water treatment in order to become more competitive and better cooperate with the local aquaculture and fisheries sectors.
While the international ballast water management convention has been implemented to stop the spread of harmful aquatic organisms via ships’ ballast water, there is understood to be no such regulations for ships commuting between Norwegian waters and the open sea.
Hordaford has ordered a ballast water treatment system from fellow Norwegian company PG Flow Solutions for the vessel Hordafor IV which exclusively sails in domestic 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,” said Karsten Østervold, fleet manager at Hordafor.
“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.”
Hordafor is a leading player within handling and processing of by-products from the Norwegian aquaculture and fisheries industries.
PG Flow Solutions is to supply its IMO-approved PG-Hyde ballast water treatment system to Hordafor IV.
“Ballast water systems regulate the intake, discharge and treatment of ballast water and sediments, and is therefore an important environmental measure,” said 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.”
