Case stories

The challenge:
A vessel in Sweden had 9,000 m3 of non-compliant ballast water. Its onboard BWMS malfunctioned, leading the Swedish Transport Agency to withhold the vessel in port.

The solution:
Rapid response:

• Vessel contacted Bawat Friday afternoon
• Bawat BaaS mobile, land-based reception facility deployed Saturday morning
• Ballast water treated on site, restoring full compliance

The outcome:

• Vessel returned to compliance with minimal delay
• Demonstrated Bawat BaaS reliability and flexibility
• Authorities taking decisive action to protect marine environments.

The challenge:
A large LNG carrier in Northern Europe faced a critical ballast water compliance challenge when its onboard BWTS could not handle low-salinity river water. With operations ongoing and IMO D-2 compliance at risk, the vessel required a fast, reliable, and sustainable ballast water treatment solution.

The solution:
Bawat deployed its Ballast as a Service (BaaS) – a mobile, containerized ballast water management system (BWMS) that can be mobilized to any port or shipyard at short notice. In a 24-hour, non-stop operation across 5 days, the Bawat team both treated and delivered more than 30,000 tonnes of ballast water directly back to the vessel, ensuring full compliance under demanding real-world conditions.

The outcome:

• Effective treatment in all water qualities – independent of salinity, turbidity, and river conditions
• Mobile and flexible – rapid deployment to Northern European ports and global shipyards
• Dual capability – treating and delivering ballast water when onboard systems fail.

“ This BaaS job demonstrates the flexibility of Bawat’s technology – capable of acting as both a treatment and delivery solution when vessels need it most. ” – Bawat

This LNG carrier’s experience highlights how Bawat BaaS provides shipowners and operators with a cost-effective, flexible, and reliable ballast water compliance backup, ensuring smooth operations and healthy oceans when onboard systems fall short.

The challenge:
In spring 2025, a vessel arriving at a Northern European port faced a compliance challenge when its onboard BWTS could not treat previously loaded ballast water. With operations at risk, the ship needed an immediate and effective ballast water treatment solution.

The solution:
Bawat’s Ballast-as-a-Service (BaaS) mobile reception facility was mobilised within 24 hours. Over just two days, the Bawat team successfully treated more than 11,000 m³ of ballast water, enabling the vessel to continue operations with minimal delay and full compliance.

The outcome:

• Rapid response – deployment within 24 hours
• Proven capacity – 11,000 m³ treated in 2 days
• Minimal operational disruption – vessel back on schedule

“ The team responded quickly and professionally. It was a complex situation handled smoothly. Communication and execution were excellent. ” – Fleet Superintendent

This case demonstrates how Bawat BaaS provides shipowners with a professional, fast, and reliable compliance backup — ensuring ballast water emergencies are solved efficiently in ports across Northern Europe and worldwide.

The challenge:
In Rostock, Germany, Bawat BaaS faced one of its most demanding projects to date. A bulk carrier’s onboard ballast water treatment system had malfunctioned, leaving 8,200 m³ of ballast water untreated. The challenge was made even greater by muddy, highly turbid waters, which rendered the vessel’s UV-based system ineffective and put compliance at serious risk.

The solution:
Bawat deployed its Ballast as a Service (BaaS) mobile solution, based on heat treatment technology. Unlike UV or filtration systems, the Bawat BWMS is independent of water quality, ensuring reliable treatment even under extreme port conditions. The Bawat team completed the job efficiently and on schedule, restoring compliance for the vessel.

The outcome:

• 8,200 m³ of ballast water treated despite adverse conditions
• Independent of salinity and turbidity – reliable in all water qualities
• Compliance secured quickly and efficiently in a critical port call

This project demonstrates how Bawat BaaS provides shipowners with a fast, flexible, and proven compliance backup, making it the preferred choice for challenging port environments.

Bawat BaaS – Ballast as a Service reached a new milestone at the end of 2024 with its first shipyard assignment at Ørskov Yard, Denmark.

The challenge:
A fishing inspection vessel required the help from Bawat BaaS – Ballast as a Service before dry-docking as it had no BWMS installed, and the shipyard relied on Bawat’s expertise to handle the ballast water treatment task efficiently.

The solution:
The Bawat BaaS system was seamlessly mobilized and set up at the yard, treating the vessels remaining ballast water in the ballast tanks while in drydock This operation not only ensured compliance with environmental regulations but also demonstrated Bawat’s ability to integrate with shipyard workflows.

The outcome:
This successful project underscored the reliability and adaptability of Bawat’s heat-based technology, paving the way for future shipyard collaborations. It also highlights the environmental awareness of Ørskov Yard and its ability to adapt to the September 2024 ballast water convention deadline.

The challenge:
When a vessel in Holland headed for dry dock with sealed ballast tanks, the ballast water required treatment. Bawat supplied a containerized Bawat system to be deployed onboard the vessel to treat 4,000 m³ of ballast water.

The solution:
This operation demonstrated the flexibility of Bawat’s on demand technology, capable of adapting to both port-based and mobile applications. The treatment process was completed efficiently, meeting all compliance standards and customer expectations.

The outcome:
This project highlighted the versatility of Bawat BaaS, providing a tailored solution for the dutch clientwhile showcasing the benefits of containerized treatment systems in maritime operations.

The challenge:
A vessel faced a critical compliance issue docking at Bremen Port. Despite having an onboard ballast water treatment system, it was unable to deballast in line with IMO discharge standards. The vessel risked either leaving the port to perform a costly ballast water exchange beyond 200 nautical miles* or find a company that could treat the water for them. Furthermore, the situation restricted the vessel’s ability to load new cargo, compounding operational delays and financial losses.

Note: *This occurred before 8th September 2024. Under current regulations, ballast water exchange is no longer permitted.

The solution:
The vessel owner contacted Bawat’s German agent I.Jansen GmbH to get Bawat BaaS – Ballast as a Service to address the urgent compliance issue. Demonstrating exceptional logistical efficiency, the team mobilized a containerized Mobile Ballast Water Management System (Mobile BWMS) from Denmark to Bremen within just 24 hours.

Once on-site, the system was installed and operational, allowing compliant deballasting to commence immediately.

The outcome:
The vessel successfully discharged its ballast water, meeting all regulatory requirements while avoiding a costly detour and extended downtime.

The challenge:
The Port of Hamburg, one of Europe’s busiest and most important ports, faced challenges with vessels not meeting the IMO ballast water discharge requirements, due to reasons like malfunctioning onboard ballast water treatment systems (BWTS).

Vessels docking in the Port of Hamburg faced huge penalties and operational delays.

Port of Hamburg needed a reliable, on-demand solution to support vessels in achieving compliance without causing operational disruptions.

The solution:
Bawat introduced its BaaS – Ballast as a Service solution to the Port of Hamburg. The Authority for Environment, Climate, Energy, and Agriculture (BUKEA) became the first European authority to issue a discharge permit for mobile ballast water reception, treatment, and discharge, enabling Bawat BaaS to operate within the port.

Bawat partnered with Jongen GmbH, a local expert in vessel waste management, to establish a permanent mobile on-demand ballast water reception facility in Hamburg.

The outcome:
The Port of Hamburg now benefits from:

• On-demand treatment to meet discharge standards.
• Preventing invasive species discharge.
• Reducing delays and costly offshore exchanges.

Bawat BaaS delivers a reliable and flexible solution to ensure smooth operations and environmental sustainability.

The challenge:
During the Femern Link project, a vessel arriving at Rødby Havn, Denmark, carried untreated ballast water originating from Belgium. Ensuring ballast water compliance was vital to prevent the spread of invasive species and adhere to international IMO D2 discharge standards. With strict environmental protocols in place, the Femern Link contractors required a rapid, on-site solution to treat the ballast water efficiently without delaying the project timeline.

The solution:
The contractors turned to Bawat BaaS for a reliable, mobile ballast water treatment solution (BWTS). With minimal planning and fast mobilization, Bawat transported one of its containerized Mobile Ballast Water Management Systems (BWMS) to Rødby Havn. The system uses innovative, filterless, and chemical-free pasteurization technology to treat ballast water directly on-site, ensuring full compliance with IMO D2 discharge standards while minimizing environmental impact.

The outcome:
Bawat BaaS delivered seamless ballast water treatment for the Femern Link project, achieving:

• On-demand, IMO-compliant ballast water treatment.
• Effective prevention of invasive species discharge
• The service was performed seamlessly, ensuring no delays in the Femern Link project timeline.