Page 36: of Maritime Logistics Professional Magazine (Q3 2012)

Cost of SystemThere is a very good reason that this bullet was not placed at the top of the list. That?s because some owners will look for the ?cheapest? system available. The initial purchase cost is only one component of what your new BWT system will entail. After installation, will you experience reoccurring ex- penses related to supplies, chemicals, maintenance? A poorly operating system or one which requires heightened backend attention may eventually cost you a lot more, especially if it means off-hire time in the yard. Increasingly, vendors are moving towards lower acquisition costs, but these dollars then come back into the equation for items such as  lters and UV lights.InstallationHow dif cult will it be to install the system, how long will it take and how long will your vessel be out of service? Availability The dozens of ?approved? systems on the market create the impression that the equipment is immediately available. That may not be the case. Newer entries into this equipment equa- tion may not have the manufacturing capability (yet) to meet demand from customers. How long will you have to wait for delivery? Are you in the queue with 1,000 other vessel opera- tors and their collective 70,000+ vessels? Cubic Footprint Will the system  t onto your ship and if so, will it hinder your operations and ability to perform commercially. Will it reduce your cargo carrying capacity? As the rules get pushed down to the smaller hulls (think: EPA VGP) getting the system onto the 79 foot hull may be harder than you might  rst think. Hence, that system that can move 5,000 cubic meters per hour on a VLCC might not be the best choice for your 85 foot research vessel. Conversely, some units double in size as they double their throughput capacity. That?s not a good thing when space is at a premium.MaintenanceIn many cases, a simpler system may be better than the one that includes everything except the skin diver with a spear. Beyond this, a complicated system may require heightened maintenance costs and if some of that falls onto the shoul- WATER MANAGEMENT Artist?s depiction of the Hyde GUARDIAN BWT system 36 I Maritime Professional I 3Q 2012MP #3 34-49.indd 36MP #3 34-49.indd 368/15/2012 10:37:20 AM8/15/2012 10:37:20 AM