Enviro Voraxial Technology and Maritime Solutions (USA) have jointly filed for patent protection on their proprietary ballast water treatment system. The application entitled "Apparatus and Method for Treating Ballast Tank Water" was submitted to the U.S. Patent office in order to protect the two companies' highly proprietary technology.

The EVTN/Maritime Solutions' Ballast Water Treatment System is a revolutionary method in the treatment, purification, and removal of particulate sediment and dangerous marine organisms from the influent ballast water of ships, barges, and other sea-going vessels. The system is based on a two-stage process. Initially, in excess of 95% of the silt, sediment, and larger marine organisms contained in the ballast tank water are removed through the utilization of the EVTN Voraxial Separator (VAS). This "cleaned" water is then treated in a secondary process through the use of ultraviolet (UV) radiation or specially designed, environmentally friendly chemical biocides.

The current method for the treatment of ballast water is accomplished through a procedure known as "ballast water exchange." In this process less than 25% of the particulate sediment is removed and the extraction rate of the harmful marine organisms is between 65% to 90%. The large variation in the extraction rate is dependent upon several factors including the configuration of the vessel's ballast tanks, and the sea and weather conditions at the time the "ballast water exchange" is occurring. With the EVTN/Maritime Solutions' Ballast Water Treatment System, particulate sediment removal is expected to be in excess of 95% while the "kill" rates utilizing the UV light system or the biocide, SEAKLEEN, are anticipated to be approximately 99%. Another major advantage is that the efficiency of the Ballast Water Treatment System is independent of all sea and weather conditions.