BIO-UV has upgraded the BIO-SEA ballast water control panel with a traffic-light display to help crews manage treatment capacity in challenging water quality conditions.
BIO-UV Group has upgraded the control system for its BIO-SEA ballast water management system, introducing new features to help crews identify changes in treatment capacity and filter performance.
The new BIO-SEA control panel includes a colour-coded traffic-light display showing treatment capacity as a percentage of full flow.
The system is being introduced as ship operators respond to challenging water quality conditions, which can affect ballast water treatment performance.
BIO-UV said the upgraded control panel will be officially unveiled at the SMM 2026 exhibition in Hamburg.
BIO-SEA ballast water control panel adds traffic-light display
When a BIO-SEA ballast water treatment system is operating, the upgraded software displays four levels of operation before reaching red, which indicates a critical alarm and stops the system.
The display moves through green, yellow, orange and dark orange before red.
Thresholds are configured during commissioning according to treatment mode, either IMO or USCG, through a new Challenging Water Quality parameter screen.
The development follows recommendations in the International Maritime Organization’s challenging water quality guidance.
The IMO adopted Resolution MEPC.387(81) in 2024, providing interim guidance for ships operating under the Ballast Water Management Convention when properly installed and maintained systems encounter operational limitations in challenging water quality conditions.
Control upgrade supports challenging water quality operation
Charlène Ceresola, BIO-UV Group’s Project Manager, said: “We have focused on giving the crew a much clearer picture of what is happening during ballast water treatment, particularly when water quality becomes more challenging for UV treatment,”
She added: “The operator can see available treatment capacity directly on the process screen and respond to changing conditions without having to interpret a series of individual sensor values.”
BIO-UV said filter loading is monitored through the same visual approach, using backwash frequency as the indicator of the challenge posed by particle load.
This ranges from 40-minute intervals through to continuous backwashing.
Red still indicates a clogged filter and generates an alarm, while preventive pop-ups are intended to help crews identify when the self-cleaning function is being challenged.
HMI separates latest operation from cumulative data
The upgraded human-machine interface also separates information from the latest ballast water treatment operation from cumulative system data.
Ceresola said: “The upgraded human-machine interface (HMI) better separates information from the most recent ballast water treatment operation from cumulative system data,”
“The first screen records date, duration, location, treatment mode, treated volume and energy consumption for the latest operation and resets automatically when the next operation begins. A second provides treated volume, treatment duration, maintenance information and energy consumption accumulated since commissioning, which cannot be reset.
“This gives operators two distinct sets of information: what happened during the latest operation and the accumulated operating record of the system,” she said.
“Together with the alarm and filter information, it provides the crew with a more accessible operational picture to handle their reporting obligations in Ballast Water Record Book.”
Cybersecurity features remain available
Cybersecurity features remain accessible through BIO-SEA HIGH mode, in line with IACS UR E26 standards.
IACS says UR E26 and UR E27 address cyber resilience for ships and onboard systems and equipment.
Ceresola said: “Ship-specific and class requirements can differ, which is why the user management system can be configured accordingly at commissioning,”
BIO-UV’s BIO-SEA range uses UV-based ballast water treatment and is certified by the IMO and USCG, according to the company.
BIO-UV to introduce panel at SMM 2026
The new control panel will be introduced at the SMM trade fair in Hamburg, where BIO-UV Group will be available at Booth 114 in Hall A1.
The upgrade comes as ship operators continue to manage ballast water compliance requirements and operational challenges linked to water quality, treatment capacity and reporting.
For more coverage of marine water treatment and ocean protection technology, visit H2O Global News’ Oceans section.
Source: BIO-UV Group
