Alfa Laval’s PureBallast 3 Ultra, the latest ballast water management system (BWMS) built on proven PureBallast 3 technology, has, within the first few months, secured orders from leading shipyards worldwide, with deliveries set to begin in Q3 2025.
The new system is designed to deliver enhanced performance, greater energy efficiency, and simplified installation. Despite a declining retrofit market, Alfa Laval made a business decision to invest in developing PureBallast 3 Ultra, solidifying its commitment to remaining a trusted partner in the BWMS space. While other market players may be moving to other sectors, Alfa Laval says it continues to push forward with a focus on delivering advanced BWMS solutions that meet the evolving needs of shipyards and shipowners.
PureBallast 3 Ultra has already seen a rising demand in the market with confirmed orders from shipyards in China, South Korea, and Japan—the world’s top three ship building nations—as well as yards in other parts of the world.
The PureBallast 3 Ultra design is built on insights and experience gained from the thousands of PureBallast systems sold, installed, commissioned and serviced by Alfa Laval since its development in cooperation with Wallenius Water in 2006. The system’s compact design, reduced footprint, and optimised system integration have been widely appreciated by shipyards, particularly for tanker vessels where space is critical. Additionally, the integrated Cleaning-In-Place (CIP) and UV reactor module design minimises piping requirements, reducing installation costs and complexity.
Peter Nordström, R&D Manager, Alfa Laval PureBallast, said: “This is a demanding time for shipyards, with full order books and an increasing need to adopt new technologies to meet evolving environmental regulations. These changes require new ways of working with ship design and ship building. We have listened to our shipyard customers and developed a PureBallast system that simplifies installation while meeting their high standards. With deliveries set to begin in the second half of 2025, many orders are already in place, confirming strong market confidence.”
While shipyards benefit from easier installation, PureBallast 3 Ultra has been designed to meet the expectations of the ship operators. The system ensures performance in all water conditions while maintaining low power consumption, making BWMS compliance more manageable. Furthermore, all PureBallast 3 Ultra systems will be connectivity-ready, allowing for remote monitoring and optimised service support.
Tobias Döscher, Head of Global Sales, Business Development and Marketing, Alfa Laval PureBallast, said: “Early feedback from shipowners on PureBallast 3 Ultra has been highly positive. We are entering a new era in ballast water management now that the retrofit phase has ended. However, regulations continue to evolve, and the experience-building phase will soon be completed. We are confident that our new system will make BWMS compliance easier to achieve on board.”
With the increasing focus on BWMS compliance—especially with the upcoming concentrated inspection campaign (CIC) in September 2025—Alfa Laval believes that vessel operators need a strong partner offering support throughout the vessel’s lifetime. Alfa Laval’s production in Qingdao, China, will mean shipyard support and smooth deliveries of PureBallast 3 Ultra, beginning in Q3 2025.
Image: PureBallast 3 Ultra BWMS (credit: Alfa Laval)
