Hamworthy KSE is providing a dual-function waste treatment system to the Korean Hyundai Mipo yard for installation aboard the pipelayer MV Kitt, under a contract valued at £115 000. It gives Hamworthy KSE the opportunity to supply its most comprehensive waste treatment system to date, using both gravity and vacuum collection and dealing with black and grey water. The system is geared to coping cost effectively with the wide variation in the number of people aboard, from a crew of 40 to up to 240 during pipelaying operations.

The crew's quarters are being equipped with a Super Trident ST3A sewage treatment plant with a conventional gravity collection system. The operational team's quarters, on the other hand, are being equipped with an integrated waste handling system combining two Super Trident ST8 sewage treatment plants with a vacuum collection system. Grey water from showers and wash basins is collected by gravity to individual vacuum interface valves for each cabin, and then transferred to the collection tank by vacuum. Vacuum technology was selected for this application for a number of reasons including its ease and speed of installation - a vacuum system can take up to 45% less time to fit. Other installation benefits include smaller pipework and the option of horizontal or vertical transport to save space.

The Super Trident series of sewage treatment plant has been designed to provide a cost-effective and safe method of disposing of waste at sea. The systems operate on the activated sludge/suspended aeration system, which accelerates natural biological processes to produce clean, safe effluent suitable for discharging at sea. Hamworthy KSE acquired vacuum toilet technology two years ago, making it the first supplier in the world to offer completely integrated sewage handling and treatment systems.