ACO Marine has delivered three of its Clarimar wastewater treatment units to Ukraine-based Nibulon Shipbuilding and Repair Yard for installation aboard a series of high specification project tugs.

Three 1200hp tugboats, built to the yard’s 121M Project Tug design, will be delivered to Nibulon’s own account for barge assist operations on the Ukraine’s network of inland waterways. Each vessel will feature a Clarimar MF-0.5 wastewater management system, proving a treatment capacity of up to 1.2m³ per day from a system with footprint of 1.63m².

According to the ACO Marine web site, sewage and waste water enters into the main activation stage where it is mixed and aerated by fine bubble aeration membrane elements. Mounted blowers provide air to the aeration elements whose innovative design allows quick and easy removal for cleaning.

Aerobic bacteria and microorganisms break down the organic matter into mostly carbon dioxide, water, and inert nonorganic material. Throughout the process the bacteria cells continue to reproduce new organisms to sustain the biological process. High efficiency of purification is ensured, the company says, by the use of biocarrier.

Clean water from the mixed liquor in the sword chamber is drawn through the ACO-MF "bio-sword" by the effluent discharge pump and discharged either directly overboard or recycled back into ship’s storage.

Since 2013, when shipbuilding and repair operations began, Nibulon Shipbuilding and Repair has delivered two 2500hp POSS-115 project tugs, three 90m non-self-propelled project vessels, three 1200hp 121 project tugs, a C14938 project mobile floating crane, and three 70m non-self-propelled B2000 design project vessels.