Frequently asked questions

Ballast water is water carried in ships’ ballast tanks to improve stability and balance. Cruise ships, large tankers, and bulk cargo carriers typically take in ballast water from coastal waters after unloading cargo and later discharge it at their next port of call. This water often contains biological materials such as plants, animals, viruses, and bacteria — many of which can become invasive species and harm aquatic ecosystems or disrupt local economies.

No. The Bawat BWMS is a one-pass treatment system, meaning treatment is required only once — during either ballasting or de-ballasting — not both.

The cost of a BWMS varies depending on the ship type, system capacity, configuration, and service requirements. For a price estimation, please send your vessel details to info@bawat.com.

Bawat BWMS units are available with treatment capacities from 5 m³/h up to 5,000 m³/h.

The Bawat BWMS uses a unique, patented one-pass pasteurization technology. This heat-based treatment represents one of the simplest and most effective solutions to an ecological and regulatory challenge in the international shipping industry.

The main components of the Bawat system are standard components already present in vessels as heat exchangers, pumps or flowmeters.

The Bawat BWMS can operate effectively in all water temperatures — from near-freezing to tropical waters.

Yes. The Bawat Ballast Water Management System (BWMS) is both IMO Type Approved and USCG Type Approved, allowing vessel owners to comply with ballast water regulations globally.

Proposed regulatory changes addressing challenging water quality are not likely to affect Bawat’s BWMS as it is not impacted by sediment or salinity.

The Bawat system performs well in all water qualities as it does not use filters or chemicals.

Mobile, containerised solutions are also available from Bawat. These can be rented for land and offshore operations and provide a flexible solution for owners not wishing to retrofit.

No. The Bawat BWTS operates without filters, eliminating the risk of filter clogging, backflushing requirements and maintenance associated with filter-based ballast water treatment systems.

No. The Bawat BWTS uses heat treatment and does not require active substances, chemical storage, dosing systems or neutralisation before discharge.

Yes. The Bawat BWTS is designed to operate independently of water quality. As it does not use filters or UV treatment, system performance is not affected by high sediment loads, turbidity, salinity or challenging water conditions.

Bawat BaaS (Ballast-as-a-Service) is a port or yard reception facility operated by Bawat. It enables vessels with inoperable or non-compliant BWMS to treat and discharge ballast water safely and in full regulatory compliance.

A Bawat BaaS reception facility (PRF) is an onshore mobile treatment setup located at a port or yard. It uses the same one-pass pasteurization technology as the Bawat BWMS and Mobile BWMS but is fully operated by Bawat personnel.

Bawat BaaS is ideal when a vessel’s onboard BWMS is unavailable, under maintenance, or unable to treat local water conditions.

Yes. Bawat BaaS can be scheduled for operations in ports and terminals.

The Mobile BWMS can typically be mobilized within 24–48 hours, depending on location and availability. Early coordination ensures smooth scheduling with port operations.

Yes. After each operation, Bawat provides a treatment report or certificate confirming that the ballast water has been processed in full compliance with IMO D-2 and USCG regulations.

The vessel’s ballast water is pumped into the Bawat BaaS treatment facility, where it undergoes heat-based pasteurization to remove harmful organisms, bacteria, and invasive species.

Depending on the operation (ballasting or de-ballasting) and vessel setup, pumps and hoses are configured to match the needs of the job. The ship’s ballast system can be used, or external suction or booster pumps can be arranged.

Yes. Bawat BaaS uses the same patented one-pass pasteurization technology as the Bawat BWMS. The main difference is that Bawat operates the service for the client.

Yes. The system is effective for all water types, including fresh, brackish, and seawater, across different temperatures and turbidity levels.

Yes. Bawat BaaS is available for both ballasting and de-ballasting operations. It can deliver compliant ballast water to the ship or treat existing ballast water from the vessel.

All Bawat BaaS facilities comply with the IMO D-2 standards under the Ballast Water Management Convention.

No. Bawat BaaS uses only heat-based pasteurization. No filters, UV, or chemicals are used.

The standard Bawat BaaS setup has a treatment capacity of approximately 200 m³/h.

Bawat BaaS operates on a pay-per-cubic-meter (m³) model. The exact cost depends on the total volume of ballast water treated.

• Full compliance with international standards.
• Cost-effective, pay-per-use model.
• No need for system purchase or crew training.
• Bawat manages transport, setup, and operation.

To use Bawat BaaS, contact the port authority or Bawat directly to schedule the service.

Bawat BaaS is successfully implemented across Europe, with operations in Spain, Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, and Poland. By mid-2025, more than 150,000 m³ of ballast water had been treated through this setup.

Failing to treat ballast water can result in fines, vessel delays, and detainment by authorities.

No. As the Bawat BWMS uses heat to treat the ballast water, all water qualities are treated to D-2 standard including low salinity water with no negative impact on the flow rate.

The Mobile BWMS is Bawat’s land-based, mobile ballast water management system designed to support vessels when their onboard BWMS is unavailable, unsuitable, or non-compliant. Acting as a mobile reception facility, it can be deployed directly to ports or terminals to treat and deliver ballast water in full compliance with the IMO Ballast Water Management Convention and US Coast Guard (USCG) standards.

A Mobile BWMS is relevant when:

• The vessel’s onboard BWMS is not working or cannot handle challenging waters such as low salinity, high turbidity, or temperature variations.
• The vessel requires ballast water treatment but does not yet have a permanent BWMS installed.
• Extra treatment capacity is needed during busy operations.

When port authorities delay or detain vessels due to detections of issues with the existing BWMS onboard

Yes. The Mobile BWMS is designed to operate flexibly at ports, terminals, and shipyards. It can be connected directly to vessels to treat and discharge ballast water in full compliance with IMO and USCG regulations.

The Mobile BWMS can serve a wide range of vessels and offshore units, including:

• Cargo vessels such as bulk carriers, tankers, container ships, and LNG carriers
• Passenger ships and ferries
• Offshore vessels including platform supply vessels, crew boats, and FPSOs
• Specialized vessels such as dredgers, tugs, and service ships

Yes. The Mobile BWMS meets all relevant international ballast water regulations, including the IMO D-2 standards and USCG type approval requirements.

The Mobile BWMS connects directly to a vessel’s ballast water piping using standard hoses and fittings. It can treat water during both ballasting and de-ballasting and is operated by trained personnel with minimal disruption to normal ship operations.

Yes. For deck site placement, the system can be delivered in a container size of 10’, 20’, or 40’, depending on the system specifications.

Yes. The Bawat BWMS consists of standard marine components and can be delivered as a non-skidded solution if required.

Yes. The Mobile BWMS is a one-pass treatment system, meaning that ballast water is fully treated in a single pass to meet IMO D-2 and USCG standards. This allows fast and efficient operation under all water conditions.

Yes. The Mobile BWMS can deliver D-2–compliant ballast water directly to a vessel, providing a reliable source of treated water when onboard systems are unavailable or unable to handle local conditions.

Yes. A single Mobile BWMS can treat ballast water for multiple vessels, making it a flexible and cost-effective solution for ports, terminals, or shipyards.

• Flexibility: Can be deployed wherever vessels need ballast water treatment.
• Compliance assurance: Ensures all vessels leaving the facility meet IMO D-2 and USCG standards.
• Operational efficiency: Capable of serving multiple vessels in succession.
• Support during inspections: Valuable during CIC campaigns or intensified port inspections.

The Mobile BWMS is designed and manufactured by Bawat A/S, a leading provider of innovative ballast water treatment solutions. All systems are fully certified to meet IMO D-2 and USCG standards and are engineered to handle challenging water conditions efficiently.

No. The Bawat BWMS one-pass system does not require any post-treatment holding time.

No. The Bawat BWMS has no restrictions for ships carrying dangerous goods.

No. The Bawat BWMS performs efficiently in all water qualities, including varying levels of salinity, turbidity, and temperature.

The Bawat BWMS is ideal for retrofit installation thanks to its flexibility and use of traditional components such as heat exchangers and pumps. Crews are already familiar with their operation and maintenance, making the system easy to adopt.

Bawat also has extensive experience replacing other ballast water treatment systems that struggle with challenging water conditions and often remain inoperative a challenge that is not an issue for the Bawat BWMS, which performs reliably in all water qualities.

Yes. The Bawat system is ideal for newbuild integration, offering a simple, modular design that can be incorporated early in the ship’s design phase. This allows for optimal space utilization, energy efficiency, and compliance from day one ensuring long-term reliability with minimal operational complexity.

Actually the Bawat BWMS is mainly designed to use the vessel’s own waste heat as the energy source for treating ballast water. By recovering heat from the engine cooling system or other onboard sources, the system eliminates the need for additional energy input. This makes Bawat’s solution highly energy-efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly, reducing both fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions.

No. As the Bawat BWMS uses heat to treat the ballast water, all water qualities are treated to D-2 standard including low salinity water with no negative impact on the flow rate. System slowdowns and shutdowns do not occur as there are no filters that can otherwise get clogged.

Yes! The Bawat BWMS is a one pass, in voyage system with no holding time requirement. This means the shipowner can effectively bypass the BWMS during ballasting and de-ballasting operations in port or at sea meaning the system size can be significantly reduced. A large cargo ship for example can operate with a 200m3/hr system rather than a 2,000m3/hr system reducing installation and operation costs for the owner.

The Bawat BWTS is designed to utilise available waste heat from the vessel's engines as the primary energy source for treatment. Electrical power requirements are therefore limited to standard auxiliary equipment such as pumps and instrumentation, helping minimise operating costs.

Yes. Ballast water treatment is typically carried out during voyage using available waste heat from the vessel's engines. This allows treatment to be completed without affecting cargo operations or increasing port stay.

Yes. The Bawat BWTS consists of standard maritime equipment such as heat exchangers, pumps, temperature and pressure sensors, and flow meters. Crew are already familiar with operating this type of equipment, reducing training requirements and simplifying daily operation.

Maintenance requirements are limited to routine inspection and servicing of standard equipment such as pumps, heat exchangers and instrumentation. As the Bawat BWTS does not use filters, chemicals or UV lamps, there are no consumables or treatment components that require regular replacement.

Bawat has developed a Total Cost of Ownership (TC) calculator just fill in the details and it will show you. Find it here.

Yes. The Bawat BWTS is built using proven industrial components that are widely used in the maritime industry. Spare parts are readily available through Bawat's global support network

No. Typically, BWMS equipment can be installed in existing engine room spaces.

The Bawat BWMS is compact and can be designed around existing engine room layouts.

Bawat BWMS retrofits can be installed without drydocking.

Typically, less than USD 5,000 per annum.

Yes – positively. The Bawat BWTS utilises available waste heat from the vessel's engines to treat ballast water, improving overall energy utilisation onboard. As treatment is typically carried out during voyage, ballast water operations can be completed without affecting cargo operations or increasing time spent in port. This can contribute to improved operational efficiency and support CII performance.