Mouawad Consulting

Mouawad Consulting provides type approval and retrofit services for ballast water management systems (BWMS) to vessels, including oil and chemical tankers, bulk and gas carriers, offshore supply and roll-on / roll-off (ro-ro) vessels, and container ships.

Services for shipowners include market and feasibility studies, and turnkey retrofit solutions for BMWS.

The company also offers consultancy services for US Coast Guard (USCG) and International Maritime Organization (IMO) type approval, which follow the company’s standardised Fast Track to IMO and USCG Type Approval programme.

Pre-survey on-board a passenger ship: discussion with the crew to determine the most feasible solution is an important step in retrofit planning.

3D scanning is a useful tool to pipe in the BWMS. It is also useful in getting a complete bill of materials for the installation work.

The company is experienced in ultraviolet (UV) and filter installations, as well as electrolysis.

The company carries out a complete retrofit survey with proper planning, reporting and scanning.

Mouawad Consulting prefabricates and galvanises steel pipes. The company is also experienced in retrofits with glass-reinforced epoxy (GRE) pipes.

Mouawad Consulting has commissioned BWMS on very large crude carriers (VLCCs) at the new build stage.

Mouawad Consulting works closely with manufacturers to understand their equipment, in order to perform retrofits efficiently.

Inspecting a GRE pipe in a turnkey retrofit project on-board a container vessel.

Inspection and commissioning onboard a Suezmax Tanker during the new build stage.

Mouawad Consulting also supplies in-house software, hardware and experience for bespoke BWMS retrofits.

Ballast water management system retrofits

Mouawad Consulting retrofits systems on-board ships using its experience in type approval, certification, and installation and commissioning of BWMS.

Each project begins with a market study, which aims to select two or three BWMS systems that fit the design and operation of ships. This is followed by a feasibility study, including 3D scanning and modelling of the system.

The company then develops drawings for class approval, as well as prefabricates pipes and supporting structures.

The BWMS is installed either with the riding crew or in the shipyard. Mouawad Consulting supervises prefabrication and installation in dry-dock shipyards on the owner’s behalf prior to commission.

Market and feasibility studies for BWMS system

The market study refines the BWMS selection applicable to a ship or a fleet of similar vessels.

The goal of the study is to propose the most suitable BWMS depending on the operational and design profile of the ship, as well as the technical, operational, approval and service profile of the system.

The feasibility study includes an on-board survey that involves 3D scanning and measurement, potential location inspection, laser scan processing and 3D modelling of BWMS systems to determine whether they are appropriate for the vessel.

Class approval and drawing analysis of BWMS

When each BWMS is chosen, all relevant ship drawings are updated to include the installation of the new system.

Drawings cover disciplines, including piping, electronics and instrumentation, control and automation, structures, and the ballast water management plan.

This phase includes the production of isometric and prefabrication drawings of piping, foundations and other components necessary for the system’s installation.

The detailed engineering phase usually requires 3D scanning of the installation site to identify the size and number of prefabricated components required.

BWMS installation on-board vessels

Mouawad Consulting installs BWMS on-board vessels.

The same naval architect who designed the installation coordinates its deployment with the project manager.

Supervision of BWMS installation

In instances where the shipowner has contracted the shipyard to perform the installation work, the company offers supervisors to ensure work is being carried out properly and minimise delays.

Commissioning of BWMS systems

The last stage involves the commissioning of the BWMS equipment to ensure it is installed and operating properly.

Commissioning is performed as part of the turnkey package, or as a standalone service for shipowners who have already installed equipment.