TORM, one of the world’s largest product tanker owners, has picked Alfa Laval to be the supplier of ballast water treatment systems to more than half of its fleet as the Danish tanker owner prepares to meet new International Maritime Organization regulations.

The company will install Alfa Laval’s PureBallast 3 Ex systems on 36 vessels on its existing fleet. Retrofitting works will be carried out between 2019 and 2024.

A further 11 newbuilding vessels on its orderbook will also be installed with same-type systems.

Under the fleet agreement, the 47 Torm vessels will be equipped with the large-flow ballast water treatment systems of 2000 cu m per hour.

The retrofitting work will include connectivity units that will provide remote access to operational performance data from the installed systems, which Alfa Laval says will help secure long-term compliance with the IMO ballast water convention set to take effect from September 2019.

Based on the convention, all vessels larger than 400 gt will need to have ballast water treatment systems on board at their first renewal of International Oil Pollution Prevention Certificates.

“We look forward to supporting Torm’s tanker fleet, both with our leading technology and with the services and knowledge to ensure long-term compliance,” Alfa Laval’s head of PureBallast Anders Lindmark said.

Torm had a fleet of 78 vessels on the water and 10 on order as of June 30.