Wave International supplies RC Dock’s unmanned vessels with bilge filters
Wave International’s products are to be used to finesse RC Dock’s robotic vessels’ environmental anti-pollution protection. The news comes as the latter looks to offer significant operation cost savings to its customers and achieve key environmental targets.
“As our vessels are unmanned and operating offshore for periods averaging around 25 days, we are exceptionally careful about factoring in contingency planning and installing the highest standard of environmental protection products,” says chief technology officer and founder Ronald Kraft.
His company’s range of unmanned survey vessels (USV) operates worldwide, carrying out tasks including subsea data collection, maritime security, UXO (unexploded ordnance) clearance, pipeline and asset protection, construction and decommissioning support. All vessels are manufactured in the Netherlands.
Thus, all craft need to meet the highest environmental standards. They’ve now been fitted out with Wave International’s Wavestream System 2 bilge filters to ensure no polluted water is discharged overboard. RC Dock builds in 100 per cent redundancy on all its systems, with each vessel having a second fully operational system on board. The flow rate and output from the Wavestream Systems are monitored remotely and can be switched over to the reserve system if required.
“We chose Wave International’s Wavestream System 2 because it is Lloyds Standard approved, and we have service and support from one of Wave International’s distributors, Technautic BV in the Netherlands,” says Kraft.
He estimates that carbon emissions are reduced by around 90 per cent using robotic remotely controlled vessels. “This is because vessels without crew can be much smaller and lighter. When we are designing and building craft, we do not need to build in crew accommodation, facilities and services, and therefore we can use much smaller engines and renewable energy systems. In comparison to other manned and crewed vessels, operating remotely controlled robotic unmanned vessels contributes significantly to environmental protection, and offers our customers considerable operational cost savings.”
Wavestream System 2 is one of a complete range of bilge water filtration system which uses cartridges incorporating a unique filter media designed to capture and retain pollutants, ensuring only clean water – with less than five parts per million of oil in water – is discharged overboard. These include oils and fuel, microplastics, fibres and heavy metals. In November last year, Wave International launched a Wavebrite Slimline filter to support its range of Wavebrite Grey Water systems.
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