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Preliminary Analysis of Cost of Ballast Water Treatment Systems
December 22, 2009
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Overview
This paper presents the results of preliminary analysis of the expected costs of purchasing and
installing five types of ballast water treatment (BWT) systems on a “typical” ship within each of
eight ship type/size categories. To develop these cost estimates, MERC researchers developed
baseline ship operating and cost simulators (Excel spreadsheets), and adjusted them to reflect
cost differences with and without various BWT systems. Assumptions about ship characteristics
and routes, travel costs, cargo and ballast capacities, fuel and other input prices, and other factors
that were used in the cost analyses are presented alongside cost spreadsheets where they were
used. These will be updated routinely as new information becomes available to update and
refine our cost analysis.
Preliminary cost estimates are presented for a ”typical” ship within each ship type/size category
and, based on the assumption that this ship is representative of ships in that category, for all ships
in each category. Summary cost estimates include annual costs and full life cycle costs over 25
years, as well as estimated cost per ton of ballast water treated.
To estimate these costs, we first developed baseline ship cost simulators. We then contacted
each of the technology vendors whose systems had been approved by the International Maritime
Organization (IMO) as of May 2009 by email, and conducted follow-up telephone interviews
with them. We also consulted with other industry representatives and ship engineers familiar
with the details of installing and operating BWT systems on ships. All cost estimates are based
on “best available” information that could be collected within the time and budget limits of our
study. These cost estimates are considered usable for general planning purposes, but may not be
accurate with respect to any particular ship.
Focus
We estimated preliminary equipment and installation costs and operating costs for:
Each of the following five types of BWT systems
:
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Filtration and UV
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Filtration and Chemical
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Deoxygenation and Cavitation
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Electrolysis and Electrochlorination
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Filtration, Deoxygenation and Cavitation
Installed on a “typical” ship in each of the following eight ship type/size categories:
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Bulker: Cape-sized Vessel
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Bulker: Panamax
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Container: 2500 TEU
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Container: 8000 TEU
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General Cargo: Breakbulk
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General Cargo: Ro-Ro
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Tanker: TAPS Trade
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Tanker: VLCC