Giorgos Kyriazis explains why there’s more than meets the eye with plastic on vessels – and how P Ship Systems is planning to tackle the problem using client feedback and their recently announced 3rd generation suite of vessels water processing units.
In an enlightening presentation at IMPA London, P Ship Systems’ Giorgos Kyriazis and George Stroumpoulis of Prime Marine drew attention to the hidden cost of plastic on board vessels, highlighting the unseen damage caused to the environment by single use bottles, while presenting the findings of an in-depth case study from Prime Marine.
“Everyone believes that pollution from plastic is nasty,” Kyriazis said, “but they don’t think about the bigger issue, which is the carbon footprint created in the production process. We have raw materials, bottle manufacturing and transportation to the vessel.
“For example, for a 500ml plastic bottle, the highest part of the carbon footprint comes from the energy used to produce the PET resins (around 30%) and the final process of converting the resins to plastic bottles (around 8%).
“Of course, the CO2 doesn’t end there, because you have many more steps in the equation – not least the disposal.”
The latter point is a major problem for the industry. Few ports have the infrastructure to accept plastic waste, while in India and Kuwait bans on single-use plastic on board ships means that waste accumulates on ships; China meanwhile has barred plastic and Europe is expected to follow.
Kyriazis added that while speaking at an event in Connecticut in November, there were a lot of comments from delegates saying that ports were refusing to accept waste plastic because they weren’t able to process it. It makes initiatives such as IMPA SAVE all the more important.
“From a ship-owner’s perspective, with a fleet operating non-stop on a global basis, we stay constantly updated on environment threats caused by maritime operations,” Stroumpoulis said. “As part of our Sustainability Policy, we strive daily to stay one step ahead of the industry’s existing regulations by implementing environmentally friendly solutions in our fleet and by installing energy efficient technologies in our vessels.”
P Ship Systems’ water processing units turn ships’ operated water into safe and healthy drinking and cooking water – eliminating issues with quality and the need for bottled water on board. It currently has more than 2200 systems installed on vessels worldwide and is seeing increased demand for systems with greater capacity – a clear indication that the industry is taking the issue of water quality and plastic waste seriously
Taking the bull by the horns
The waste problem is neatly dovetailed by issues concerning water quality in plastic bottles and from ship’s water systems. Kyriazis said they’d had reports of yellow tap water on board fairly new vessels. It is something P Ship Systems is striving to put right as its work with Prime Marine demonstrates
“By the end of 2021 we achieved a reduction of approximately 250,000 plastic bottles of water compared to 2020. Our PMS system includes systems onboard’ proper maintenance and components replacement according to the maker,” said Stroumpoulis.
“Drinking water quality was examined every five months by taking a sample onboard which is dispatched to an internationally qualified and ISO accredited shore laboratory. Every analysis confirms the water complies with WHO and the EU requirements.
“Our actions received an Industry Best Practise award by three reputable Oil Majors during TMSA 3 company office audits. Drinking water systems are easily maintained, with 24/7 Support provided by designated experts from P Ship Systems”
“We had a fleet R.O.I. of 5.7 months in the first 6 months and 70%-80% savings thereafter, including the other mentioned unique benefits on our fleet” Stroumpoulis said.
Solving both problems though is a matter of innovation, as Kyriazis explained. “We listen very carefully to our clients. Even though we provide them field-tested technologies that constantly treat and produce a safe and clean mixture of water temperature output, over the last 3 years or so they
were requesting from us to possible have less systems onboard (to further eliminate their expenses) while producing higher daily water production capacities onboard. We’re also protecting them too.
P Ship Systems’ water processing units turn ships’ operated water into safe and healthy drinking and cooking water – eliminating issues with quality and the need for bottled water on board. It currently has more than 2200 systems installed on vessels worldwide and is seeing increased demand for systems with greater capacity – a clear indication that the industry is taking the issue of water quality and plastic waste seriously.
“There was a big gap in the industry in our space,” says Kyriazis. “With various solutions being offered here and there on a ‘have a system for you-here it is’ approach and, as it has turned out with no dedicated expertise and no focus in drinking water for ships alone.
Don’t wait, because the environment can’t. The time to act is today, not in six months time, not in one year when it is going to be too late, the time is now. We have an opportunity to make a difference – so let’s make it
For its part, P Ship Systems continues to innovate. The company designs, develops, manufactures and distributes plug and play drink solutions. It also provides long-term support. The company’s success in the marine space,
Kyriazis said, is driven in part by this service and also by its extensive technical background in ship’s water existing infrastructure, in combination with field-tested knowledge and experience with onboard water. Coupled with flexible payment options and distribution from locations like Singapore, Rotterdam and Piraeus.
It’s latest system series of vessel water processing units, the third generation Crystalia4Sea, is testament to that, offering increased performance and cost efficiency – as well as the chance to make a difference to the environment.
“Over the last three years, while our customers were happy, they wanted a system that was smaller and able to produce way more water daily,” Kyriazis explained.
“Moreover, they wanted easy consumables management within the unit and more environmental-friendly production- to-drain water ratio. We therefore designed a smaller version the X3-ADV, that treats and produces 760Ltrs. a day at three different water temperatures, is plug and play and consumes
a fraction of the energy of its predecessor on a UV LED technology, with only a 1:1 Production-To-Drain-Ratio.
It’s an innovative solution to a very clear problem. It is clear to that the innovation won’t cease. Kyriazis confirmed a replacement version of its COMPACT system is due to be released soon, consuming less energy than its predecessor but capable of producing 1,520 Ltrs. daily of drinking and
cooking water using the same consumables as their X3-ADV onboard system with only a 1:1 Ratio, versus its predecessor that produced only 380Ltrs. daily on a 1:3 Production-To-Drain-Ratio and was more expensive.
In a reminder to the industry, he had a clear message too: don’t wait, because the environment can’t. If his work anything to go by shipping will heed his advice.
“The time to act is today,” he said. “Not in six months time, not in one year when it is going to be too late, the time is now. We have an opportunity to make a difference – so let’s make it.”
