When ships discharge their bilge water the maximum level of hydrocarbons in the water is regulated by various Environmental Protection Agencies, for example there is a limit of 15ppm enforced by the IMO (International Maratime Organisation) in all international waters. Companies breaching these limits are liable to significant fines.

Further regulations have been introduced to control the use of bunker fuels. The Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) of the IMO has approved proposed amendments to the MARPOL Annex VI regulations to reduce harmful emissions from ships.

Bilge Water
The water that gathers in the bilge of a ship is collected from a number of sources, usually rough seas, rain and leaks or spillages. This water can contain oil and grease, detergents, solvents, chemicals and particles.

It must eventually be pumped out to prevent the bilge from becoming too full and it is important to understand how much oil and grease is being discharged also.

The oil in water analysers, from INOV8 Systems, provide a highly accurate and reliable solution. With automatic ultrasonic cleaning, these analysers stay clean regardless of how oily the water becomes and are not impacted by the presence of particles in the water.

Exhaust Gas Cleaning
The IMO Annex VI sulfur regulation calls for a 0.1% sulfur limit in Emission Control Areas (ECA) by 2015 and a worldwide limit of 0.5% by 2020 or latest by 2025.

One of the key effects of the regulation has been a rise in the use of Exhaust Gas Cleaning Systems. Use of an exhaust gas cleaning system enables shipping companies to continue using heavy fuel oils, however they do need to prove that the cleaning systems have been effective.
By focusing on PAHs (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons), a serious environmental contaminant,INOV8 Systems analyzer can provide continuous information regarding the cleanliness of the water, allowing the ship operator to prevent any harmful discharge.