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THE MS "CAPE RACE" - DRINKING WATER TREATMENT ON THE HIGH SEAS / IN THE ARCTIC
The MS "Cape Race" is a former deep-sea fishing cutter from 1963 that was converted into an expedition ship in 2019, enabling 12 passengers to get to know the oceans and the sublime nature of the Arctic intensively, individually and up close. On this small, very sea-safe and extremely environmentally friendly ship, every journey becomes a very personal adventure with its detailed charm from the days of tramp shipping.
The "Cape Race" was built as Canada's very first steel trawler at the height of fishing on the Atlantic. Her areas of operation were the fishing grounds of the North Atlantic, the Newfoundland Bank, the Labrador Sea and the sea areas off her home port in Nova Scotia. Originally intended for year-round fishing in the world's most inhospitable waters, she was designed to sail comfortably and safely from pole to pole, and her reinforced hull made her ideal for expeditions in Arctic waters.
It is obvious that one of the most fundamental needs of the crew and passengers must also be guaranteed on the high seas - drinking water. With its conversion, the "Cape Race" was equipped with a tank-based drinking water system. This comprises around 20 cubic meters of drinking water, which is divided between three cemented switching tanks. As usual, this water is also used on the open sea via conventional drinking water taps. In addition to the drinking water system, the "Cape Race" also has a saltwater system that can treat salt water from the sea. On the one hand, to use it directly, for example for flushing toilets, and on the other hand to produce its own drinking water. Before the "Cape Race" sets off for the Arctic, the tanks in the harbor are filled with drinking water.
As with any drinking water system, there is of course a risk of bacteria or germs, such as legionella, spreading in the system on a ship. To avoid this, the "Cape Race" team opted for a UV water disinfection system from UV concept. The UV disinfection system prevents contamination of the drinking water, which can lead to major problems, especially on the open sea without access to fresh water.
The perfect quality of the drinking water and clean water pipes on board are therefore of the utmost importance.
Why was a disinfection process using UV light chosen?
Maarten van der Duijn Schouten has two decisive reasons for this: The taste of the drinking water and the technical complexity.
The alternative to UV disinfection would be to disinfect the drinking water using chlorine. Although this process is just as effective, it also produces an intense and unpleasant chlorine taste. Another problem with the use of chlorine is that it damages the ship's desalination system. This system uses a very fine membrane to filter the salt crystals out of the water. In order to ensure that the system continues to function properly, the membrane must be cleaned regularly, which involves flushing the membrane and the entire system with clean water. If chlorinated water were used for this purpose, the membrane would be damaged or even destroyed and the function of the desalination plant would be significantly impaired or even prevented. The "Cape Race" team would therefore have had to make a number of technical changes to the water treatment circuit in order to use chlorine.
The UV water disinfection system from UV concept was easily integrated into the ship's existing water treatment system. The installation of the UV system was carried out with the professional help of a plumber, who was able to install the system without any problems.
The UV system could not yet be put into operation on the high seas, as the "Cape Race", as an expedition ship, has also been affected by the restrictions and effects of the coronavirus pandemic for almost two years. Nevertheless, the system installed was tested by UV concept for drinking water quality. For this purpose, the official authorities were contacted, who checked the drinking water in accordance with the legal standards. The drinking water quality was tested with the use of the UV system from UV concept and found to be "good" by the official authorities. Even if these legal requirements are not a prerequisite or condition for the ship, it is important to the "Cape Race" team, in the interests of its passengers, that the highest standards of drinking water quality are maintained.
quality standards are guaranteed to make the adventure in the Arctic an unforgettable experience.
Maarten van der Duijn Schouten became aware of UV concept's systems because the technology of UV disinfection was already known and solutions for drinking water systems were explicitly sought. The sewage treatment plant on board also uses a disinfection process with UV light. Even though there are other companies that offer plants and systems with UV, UV concept was the first choice, says Maarten van der Duijn Schouten. First and foremost because of the quality and the comprehensive range of services. After all, the right system that meets all the necessary requirements and the best possible support are particularly important in this unconventional location in order to ensure reliable and low-maintenance operation on the high seas.