Chantiers de l’Atlantique has contracted the French Bio-UV group to supply Bio-Sea ballast water treatment systems (BWTS) for a pair of LNG-fuelled so-called ‘super cruisers’ being constructed for luxury hotel group Ritz Carlton, a Marriott International brand.
When delivered in 2024 and 2025 respectively, the 46,000gt Ilma and Luminara will join the smaller Astander Shipyard-built Evrima – the first Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection vessel – which set sail earlier this year.
Maxime Dedeurwaerder, Business Unit Director, Bio-Sea by Bio-UV Group, said: “We are immensely proud to supply Bio-Sea systems to these prestigious vessels. These premium cruiseships are at the cutting edge of environmental technology and an advanced UV-based ballast water treatment means they are safeguarding our oceans from invasive, non-indigenous organisms.”
Ilma and Luminara will each be fitted out with a Bio-Sea ‘B’-Series B02-190 system capable of treating ballast water flow rates of 190m3/h from two high intensity, low-energy UV reactors. The system incorporates a mechanical filtration system that is backflushed automatically to ensure continuous and effective performance. Each 456-passenger capacity vessel also operates four dual-fuel engines running on LNG as the primary fuel to significantly reduce emissions. The ships have an efficient heat recovery system, LED lighting and other features to reduce environmental impact.
While BiO-UV Group has an established relationship with Chantiers de l’Atlantique, since 2015, having delivered BWTS units for installation to many cruiseships and military vessels, Ilma and Luminara represent the first projects for Ritz Carlton Yacht Collection.
Bio UV Group’s Technical Director Florian Cortes added: “For the operator and crew, BIO-SEA operation and UV dosage is automatically controlled, and treatment performance is not impacted by either water temperature or salinity. The compact skid systems selected for the Ritz Carlton Yacht Collection also incorporate a user-friendly interface for operational and maintenance simplicity.”
