CleanSea® shipboard wastewater treatment systems deliver effluent quality surpassing the world's most stringent marine discharge standards with the lowest life cycle costs in the industry.
View a list of CleanSea installations at sea.
Incorporating industry-proven components and Hydroxyl patented processes, CleanSea technology delivers environmental capabilities specifically designed to meet the tough requirements necessitated for reliable, long-term shipboard operation. Every CleanSea system is optimized for customized application within site-specific shipboard layouts, ensuring optimum functionality within space constrained areas of every CleanSea equipped vessel.
CleanSea technology is equipped to efficiently treat any blend of marine wastewater streams including grey water streams from accommodation, galley, food reject water, and laundry sources as well as black water.
A distinct advantage of the CleanSea process is the ultra-low annual chemical consumption rate. The minimal chemical requirement reduces the need for handling and storage onboard space-constrained vessels - reducing operating costs and delivering the lowest lifecycle cost solution in the industry.
CleanSea® Process Flow Diagram
CleanSea® integrates multiple staged processes including:
Influent Collection and Mixing
The CleanSea® mixing process provides enhanced stability and downstream treatment performance by mixing together all grey water and black water streams prior to primary treatment.
This collection and mixing process ensures a steady pH balance and consistent influent characteristics to the CleanSea shipboard wastewater treatment system – reducing associated costs and storage requirement for chemicals throughout the following wastewater processes.
The influent collection and mixing process is fully automated via integration with the ships control system, enabling ease of operation and monitoring. Collection levels can be varied on demand to account for variations in the vessels predicted wastewater production.
This collection and mixing process ensures a steady pH balance and consistent influent characteristics to the CleanSea shipboard wastewater treatment system – reducing associated costs and storage requirement for chemicals throughout the following wastewater processes.
The influent collection and mixing process is fully automated via integration with the ships control system, enabling ease of operation and monitoring. Collection levels can be varied on demand to account for variations in the vessels predicted wastewater production.
As a result of Headworks simple, yet important influent mixing and collection design features, CleanSea systems:
- Minimize overall operator attention requirements
- Reduce associated operating costs
- Ensure optimum environmental process functionality
Primary Solids Removal
Following Influent Collection and Mixing, primary solids are removed from the influent wastewater stream.
Solids are efficiently eliminated from wastewater via Headworks' fine screen rotating drums, providing mechanical separation of large and particulate solids from the water stream prior to the MBBR process. The screening equipment incorporates an automatic sparging system, ensuring the screen surface is maintained clean and free of solids build-up.
Separated solids accumulate via gravity down the screen face and are removed from the system via diverter plates; as solids accumulate, they are rotated to a drainage area and discharge point to Solids Handling processes.
Solids are efficiently eliminated from wastewater via Headworks' fine screen rotating drums, providing mechanical separation of large and particulate solids from the water stream prior to the MBBR process. The screening equipment incorporates an automatic sparging system, ensuring the screen surface is maintained clean and free of solids build-up.
Separated solids accumulate via gravity down the screen face and are removed from the system via diverter plates; as solids accumulate, they are rotated to a drainage area and discharge point to Solids Handling processes.
Fine screen rotating drums provide efficient mechanical separation of solids prior to the MBBR process
MBBR Process
The MBBR process provides CleanSea® shipboard wastewater treatment systems with high-rate biological wastewater treatment performance reliability and simplicity of operation in a compact, ship optimized design.
MBBR technology employs thousands of polyethylene biofilm carriers operating in mixed motion within an aerated wastewater treatment basin. Each individual biocarrier increases productivity through providing protected surface area to support the growth sustaining of heterotrophic and autotrophic bacteria within its cells. It is this high-density population of bacteria that achieves high-rate biodegradation within the system, while also offering process reliability and ease of operation.
This technology provides cost-effective treatment with minimal maintenance as since MBBR processes self-maintain an optimum level of productive biofilm. Additionally, the biofilm attached to the mobile biocarriers within the system automatically responds to load fluctuations.
MBBR technology employs thousands of polyethylene biofilm carriers operating in mixed motion within an aerated wastewater treatment basin. Each individual biocarrier increases productivity through providing protected surface area to support the growth sustaining of heterotrophic and autotrophic bacteria within its cells. It is this high-density population of bacteria that achieves high-rate biodegradation within the system, while also offering process reliability and ease of operation.
This technology provides cost-effective treatment with minimal maintenance as since MBBR processes self-maintain an optimum level of productive biofilm. Additionally, the biofilm attached to the mobile biocarriers within the system automatically responds to load fluctuations.
Learn more about Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR) technology.
Headworks Bio DAF
Headworks BIO DAF dissolved air flotation equipment design results from years of operational experience and product development, delivering highly efficient solids separation technology optimized for specialized shipboard requirements.
Learn more about Headworks Bio DAF.
Tertiary Filtration
Headworks BIO dissolved air flotation (DAF) equipment design results from years of operational experience and product development, delivering highly efficient solids separation technology optimized for specialized shipboard requirements.
Following Headworks BIO DAF solids removal processes, the water stream proceeds to tertiary filtration stages. Tertiary Filtration provides a positive barrier to particulate and total dissolved solids (TDS).
During filtration, water flows by gravity through fine-grain filter material; water polishing is achieved quietly using low energy and delivers odor-free water with minimal maintenance required. Filter material is designed to last over five years of dedicated shipboard operation, and replacements are inexpensive.
Following Headworks BIO DAF solids removal processes, the water stream proceeds to tertiary filtration stages. Tertiary Filtration provides a positive barrier to particulate and total dissolved solids (TDS).
During filtration, water flows by gravity through fine-grain filter material; water polishing is achieved quietly using low energy and delivers odor-free water with minimal maintenance required. Filter material is designed to last over five years of dedicated shipboard operation, and replacements are inexpensive.
Solids Handling
All wastewater treatment systems produce solids, either from biological treatment (particulate bacteria generated from biological activity) or non-biological treatment (unoxidized organic and non-organic components of the wastewater).
In order to process solids removed from influent grey water and black water, Headworks BIO CleanSea® shipboard wastewater treatment integrates with a solids management system. Solids are effectively removed from the black and grey water liquid streams by the primary filter, Headworks BIO dissolved air flotation (DAF) equipment, and via tertiary filtration processes.
Sludge delivered to solids handling processes consists predominantly of primary sludge removed from influent grey water and black water during Primary Solids Removal.
A low percentage of sludge delivered to solids handling is removed via Headworks BIO DAF equipment and Tertiary Filtration processes. This sludge is predominantly from total suspended solids (TSS) generated in the MBBR biological process. Sludge removed after the biological process is easily condensable as the particulate bacteria is of a young age, and the MBBR process does not incorporate a return activated sludge (RAS) line, unlike other processes.
As a result, during solids handling processes, the dewatering stage produces a sludge cake suitable for drying to <80% dry weight. The sludge dryer produces powder-like solids that are fully burnable and can be incinerated in the existing ship incinerators or bagged for safe shore disposal.
In order to process solids removed from influent grey water and black water, Headworks BIO CleanSea® shipboard wastewater treatment integrates with a solids management system. Solids are effectively removed from the black and grey water liquid streams by the primary filter, Headworks BIO dissolved air flotation (DAF) equipment, and via tertiary filtration processes.
Sludge delivered to solids handling processes consists predominantly of primary sludge removed from influent grey water and black water during Primary Solids Removal.
A low percentage of sludge delivered to solids handling is removed via Headworks BIO DAF equipment and Tertiary Filtration processes. This sludge is predominantly from total suspended solids (TSS) generated in the MBBR biological process. Sludge removed after the biological process is easily condensable as the particulate bacteria is of a young age, and the MBBR process does not incorporate a return activated sludge (RAS) line, unlike other processes.
As a result, during solids handling processes, the dewatering stage produces a sludge cake suitable for drying to <80% dry weight. The sludge dryer produces powder-like solids that are fully burnable and can be incinerated in the existing ship incinerators or bagged for safe shore disposal.
Ultra-Violet Disinfection
The final treatment stage within the CleanSea® shipboard wastewater treatment process is UV Disinfection. High-intensity multiple stage ultraviolet reactors disinfect water as it flows through the process on a single pass. Headworks BIO multi-stage array configuration provides not only complete disinfection, but also ensures the destruction of non-biodegradable viruses, pathogens, and pharmaceutical residuals in the effluent.
Multi-stage ultra-violet disinfection destroys viruses, pathogens, and residuals prior to safe, compliant discharge
CleanSea UV Disinfection is designed to efficiently treat all system effluent water independent of whether effluent is directed to ballast holding tanks, directly overboard for safe discharge to sea, or to storage and discharge simultaneously.
The multiple ultra-violet lamp design provides a reliable level of redundancy. Lamps are self-maintaining; cleaning is performed via an enclosed automated wiper system.
Effluent Discharge
CleanSea® shipboard wastewater treatment technology delivers effluent quality surpassing the world's most stringent marine discharge standards for clean, safe discharge at sea.
Cruise vessels traveling in environmentally sensitive coastal areas around the world can operate with confidence, knowing that wastewater generated onboard is safely and reliably treated and disinfected for 100% compliant discharge to the ocean. Headworks BIO CleanSea discharged effluent meets MEPC 159(55) regulations, and Alaska ADEC 2010 limits, the toughest in the world.
The effluent quality for grey water and black water treatment at any flow rate within Headworks BIO vessel-specific design parameters meets or exceeds the following requirements:
Cruise vessels traveling in environmentally sensitive coastal areas around the world can operate with confidence, knowing that wastewater generated onboard is safely and reliably treated and disinfected for 100% compliant discharge to the ocean. Headworks BIO CleanSea discharged effluent meets MEPC 159(55) regulations, and Alaska ADEC 2010 limits, the toughest in the world.
The effluent quality for grey water and black water treatment at any flow rate within Headworks BIO vessel-specific design parameters meets or exceeds the following requirements:
| Parameter | Performance |
|---|---|
| BOD | < 25 mg/l |
| TSS | < 35 mg/l |
| Floating Solids | None visible |
| PH | 5-9 |
| Chlorine | None |
| Fecal Coliform | < 14 MPN/100 ml |
All major components are capable of handling 100% of the process flow; complete redundancy is provided for process reliability and ease of maintenance.
Headworks BIO CleanSea® sets the standard for compact, low lifecycle cost, high performance wastewater treatment equipment within the cruise industry.
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