Bio-Remediation of Hydrocarbons on Inactive Ships

Vessels of all types have a limited useful life and must ultimately be dismantled or scuttled as artificial reefs, with wastes properly disposed. The Navy is seeking a means of removing hydrocarbons from inactive ships prior to ship dismantling or sinking as an artificial reef. The Phase I project investigated the use of a biological/mechanical system that was capable of removing free-phase oil while consuming emulsified oil from hydrocarbon-contaminated wastewater. The results of the Phase I study substantiated the practicality of a bio-mechanical oil water separator (OWS) for bioremediation of hydrocarbons and other organic contaminants on inactive DOD vessels. In Phase II, EnSolve builds on the Phase I work by designing, constructing, and testing a full-scale biomechanical OWS system as a method of cleaning ship washwater to regulatory acceptable levels. Efforts to get the system certified by the appropriate regulatory agency will be accomplished in the Phase II option.