Top 10 developments in cargo ship disinfection technology

As the demand for global trade continues to grow, the shipping industry is struggling to keep pace with increasingly stringent regulations designed to prevent the spread of pandemic diseases such as SARS and MERS.

One of the most effective methods to combat these and other disease vectors is the industry-wide adoption of advanced disinfection protocols. While many ships have implemented basic disinfection measures, there is still a need for more advanced technology capable of meeting the WHO standards required to eliminate pandemic threats from potential biohazardous materials.

To help meet this demand, manufacturers are investing in research and development to develop more effective disinfection methods. This article details some of the most innovative advances in cargo ship sanitation technology currently available on the market.

Ozone disinfection

Ozone is a powerful oxidant that can be used to kill pathogens in a variety of industrial environments. In the context of offshore disinfection, ozone is generated by passing a high voltage current through a solution containing oxygen.

Ozone is very effective in killing bacteria, viruses and other pathogens, but it can also react with organic matter, such as rust and dirt, to form other compounds that can be harmful to humans.

Therefore, a potential problem with ozone disinfection technology is its high capital cost compared to other forms of disinfection. This may be offset by its ability to disinfect without the need for pumps or filtration.

Ultraviolet disinfection

Ultraviolet (UV) light can be used to kill micro-organisms through a process known as photoactivation. This technology is widely used in a variety of industries, including wastewater treatment, air pollution control and medical sterilisation.

In the context of offshore disinfection, ultraviolet light is generated by an ultraviolet lamp; however, the ultraviolet output of an ultraviolet lamp is limited by the design and construction materials of the lamp.

UV disinfection technology is very suitable for the disinfection of ship disinfection The UV lamp can be placed directly in the path of the water being treated. The use of UV disinfection has proven to be effective in eliminating not only human pathogens, but also a wide range of marine organisms.

Electronic Disinfection and Detection System (EDDS)

EDDS disinfection technology uses high-voltage electrical discharges to kill pathogens and other contaminants. Although EDDS technology has been around for decades, recent advances in materials and design have made it capable of meeting WHO pandemic disinfection standards.

EDDS disinfection technology has proven to be effective in removing human pathogens and other contaminants, including prion proteins that cause diseases such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

However, the effectiveness of EDDS disinfection technology depends on the ability to maintain accurate voltage and current levels during operation. This means that EDDS technology can be difficult to implement at the port if the site has limited electrical power.

UV-C disinfection system

UV-C disinfection technology uses UV light generated specifically at a wavelength of 280 nanometres to destroy pathogens. In the context of offshore disinfection, UV-C light is generated with specially designed UV lamps that produce a high-energy output of UV-C light.

UV-C disinfection technology has proven effective in eliminating a wide range of human pathogens, including SARS coronavirus and MERS coronavirus. UV-C disinfection technology can be installed in a relatively small space and requires minimal maintenance.

However, UV-C disinfection systems are generally more expensive than other types of disinfection technology. UV-C disinfection technology has proven to be particularly effective in destroying pathogenic biofilms.

Intelligent robotics for load handling

Many of the pathogens that can cause disease at sea come from contaminated cargo. Controlling the spread of pathogens in a ship's cargo holds is crucial to prevent the spread of infectious diseases among crew and passengers. On some ships, cargo handling is done with single-use tools, which can be effective but is a logistical challenge at scale. Greater automation could be used to make disinfection as simple as the push of a button. This could be achieved through the use of drones and intelligent robotics. Robotic cargo handling could provide a scalable and cost-effective solution for disinfection that can be switched on and off as needed.

Robotic UV disinfection patrol (Ruvid)

Ruvid is a UV disinfection technology specifically designed for the automatic disinfection of a ship's bow. The system consists of a UV lamp and a robotic arm that can be controlled remotely. It can be installed on the ship's bow using a crane or the ship's existing rigging. UV disinfection of the bow is especially important for vessels operating in waters close to land.

Ruvid's UV disinfection technology has proven its effectiveness in removing human pathogens and other contaminants. In addition, the robotic arm can be used to clean the biofilm from the bow, which is especially important in case of ice formation.

Ruvid's UV disinfection technology has been proven to increase compliance with regulatory standards and can be used to meet WHO pandemic disinfection requirements.

Proteomic wastewater identification and differentiation technology (PSIDT)

Although most marine pathogens are killed by standard disinfection protocols, some are resistant to broad-spectrum disinfection treatments. This is especially true for biofilm-forming bacteria, which are communities of bacteria that can be highly resistant to disinfection.

PSIDT disinfection technology works by identifying and targeting specific proteins present in wastewater.

This technology has proven to be effective in eliminating biofilm-forming pathogens, including bacteria resistant to standard disinfection protocols. PSIDT disinfection technology can be used to detect pathogens at extremely low concentrations, even in very dilute samples.

PSIDT disinfection technology has proven to be effective in eliminating a wide range of marine pathogens, including multi-resistant bacteria.

Conclusions

Cargo ships are an important part of international trade. But to be an effective vector for cargo movement, they must be kept clean. One way to do this is to disinfect them. This is especially important in the era of global pandemics, as diseases such as SARS and MERS can be transmitted via ships. Disinfection helps to kill these pathogens.

There are many different technologies that can be used for this. The challenge is to choose the right one for your situation and apply it correctly. With these 10 advances in cargo ship disinfection technology, you can help keep your vessels fresh and clean.