In March of 2019, MSC Group is going finish an ambitious experimental work combining ice-heeling system, ballast water treatment and flushing system. This complex will be supplied for icebreakers and other ice-going vessels.

“Marine systems for anti-heeling, ballast water management and flushing are originally separated from each other. Our complex called “Equilibrium” control air and water flow, water treatment, valves, vessel position in space. It allows uninterrupted and reliable system control without complicacy” – explained by Nikita Maximov, Project Lead of MSC group.

According to his words, integration simplifies ship layout and reduces possibility of human factor. In addition, elimination of duplicated system could make the “Equilibrium” cheaper than the costs for three separate systems. “If we talk about reliability, there will be algorithms provided inside the system aimed at preventing emergencies. In particular, in the case of failure of the ballast pumps, a scenario will be launched for squeezing water out of the ballast-roll tanks by air,” the source of Mil.Press added.

The specialists of MSC Group believe that their project can be applied on the icebreakers of the project 21180M, 21900M, 22740M and other ice-going vessels. The technical design of the "Equilibrium" is scheduled to be completed in March 2019, when formation of the equipment list will begin.

One of the designers of Baltsudoproekt Design Bureau in a conversation with Mil.Press said that combining the three systems into one complex could potentially simplify the layout by reducing the amount of equipment, but stressed that it would be possible to draw a conclusion about the prospects of the system only when detailed technical parameters will be provided by the manufacturer. His colleague from the Vympel Design Bureau, who designed icebreakers "Ilya Muromets" and "Yevpaty Kolovrat", added that the supplier must comply with the design solutions laid down by the designers. In particular, Vimpel developed the initial technical requirements for anti-heeling system.

Valentin Belonenko, Head of Design Department for Surface Ships of the Krylovsky State Research Center, drew attention to the fact that combined systems increase the importance of operation sensors for ensuring vessel security. “The issues of safety and ease of operation should be locally addressed to the customer in first place” – he said.

Among international suppliers – BESI Marine systems was the first, which combined anti-heeling system with ballast water management. In their case, uses pumps and remote controlled valves are used for roll compensation. The system is created under the requirements of Lloyd’s Register.

Source: FlotProm