Wärtsilä Water & Waste says the company continues to deliver exceptional wastewater treatment performance in one of the world’s most closely monitored marine environments through the Hamworthy membrane bioreactor (MBR) system, according to independent regulatory data from the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).
During the 2024 Alaska cruise season, 14 vessels equipped with Wartsila’s Hamworthy MBR systems achieved a 98.2% compliance rate under DEC’s public testing programme. This performance surpassed the overall fleet average of 94.7% and other manufacturers’ systems, which averaged a 90.8% compliance rate.
Each year, Alaska’s DEC requires all large cruise ships operating in its waters to collect treated wastewater samples for laboratory analysis, with every result published vessel-by-vessel. The data represents one of the most rigorous and transparent performance programmes in maritime environmental regulation.
Peter Satchwell, Global Sales Director, Wärtsilä Water & Waste, said: “Alaska’s Environmental Compliance Report provides real-world validation of system performance. Our MBR systems are tested under genuine operating conditions on vessels sailing in Alaskan waters – and the results speak to the reliability and consistency of our MBR solutions. This independent verification reinforces the confidence our customers place in our technology to meet the most demanding environmental standards.”
The Hamworthy MBR technology combines biological treatment and membrane filtration to achieve stable, high-quality effluent without chemical disinfectants. Continuous monitoring of process parameters and a digital feedback loop with Wärtsilä’s technical support teams ensure performance remains consistent across different ships, crews, and itineraries.
Satchwell added: “Independent verification builds trust. The fact that our performance is independently verified through Alaska’s open reporting system demonstrates the advantage of our design philosophy, where compliance is paramount. We are proud to have reached this high watermark for performance and to support our customers to operate safely, cleanly, and efficiently no matter where they are in the world.”
The findings are considered to reaffirm Wärtsilä Water & Waste’s long-term commitment to system reliability and environmental stewardship. The company’s solutions enable ship operators to meet demanding discharge standards while supporting global efforts to protect marine ecosystems.
Image: Wärtsilä systems ensure waste water from cruise ships in Alaskan waters meet environmental standards (source: Wärtsilä/Adobe Stock Images)
