Detailed Explanation of the Latest Hot Topics in Water Treatment Equipment (Ballast Water, Domestic Sewage, Oily Wastewater) in 2026

I. Ballast Water Management System (BWMS) – Currently the Hottest Retrofitting Track

1、Core Policy Hotspots (Key Time Nodes)

1. IMO MEPC 84 Meeting (April 27 – May 1, 2026): Major Revisions to the Ballast Water Management Convention

• Strengthened mandatory biological sampling and testing for renewal and intermediate inspections to verify continued compliance with D-2 discharge standards; added annual sampling requirements for residual active substances in chemical-based systems

• Clarified the criteria for judging outdated BWMS systems; the pass rate of many early mechanical and chemical-based equipment has declined significantly, entering a concentrated replacement window

• Improved rules for controlling secondary microbial growth on long-haul vessels; optimized equipment certification testing standards for LNG carriers under ultra-long ballast stationary conditions

2. Transition Period Completion (Second Half of 2026) The Ballast Water Management Convention Experience Building Phase (EBP) ends; global port states significantly tighten spot checks; missing equipment operation records, maintenance logs, and sampling reports will result in direct vessel detention.

3. US VIDA Regulations (2027) (Mandatory implementation in 2020, advance stocking in 2026) The implementation of the US Independent Ballast Water Standards System requires vessels on routes to the US to additionally adapt to USCG-certified BWMS, spurring increased orders for retrofitting.

2、 Technology & Market Hotspots

• Mainstream Iteration Directions: Advanced UV oxidation and electrochemical electrolysis-based next-generation BWMS replace traditional chemical-based systems, eliminating secondary pollution and lowering subsequent maintenance costs.

• Intelligent Upgrades: Automatic flow regulation, salinity-adaptive sterilization, and remote data upload, matching maritime online monitoring requirements.

• Market Status: Approximately 15,000 existing vessels worldwide still require retrofitting; domestically produced BWMS are accelerating exports to replace European and American brands.

II. Sewage Treatment Plants (STP)

1、 IMO New Regulations Highlights (Core Changes in 2026)

IMO PPR13 meeting promoted the amendment to Annex IV of MARPOL (to be reviewed in 2026 and subsequently implemented):

1. Mandatory addition of Sewage Record Books (SRB) and Ship Wastewater Management Plans (SMP) to fully record discharge time, latitude and longitude, speed, distance from shore, and equipment malfunction and maintenance records.

2. Tightened discharge regulations: Deep treatment is required for discharge within 3 nautical miles; pulverization and disinfection are required for discharge within 3–12 nautical miles; only open discharge is permitted beyond 12 nautical miles.

3. Further tightening of discharge limits for inland waterways and coastal ports nearshore areas; traditional simple biological treatment equipment cannot meet the new regulations.

2、 Product Trends

1. MBR (Membrane Bioreactor) integrated equipment is becoming standard equipment on new ships, with higher efficiency in removing suspended solids and fecal coliforms, suitable for discharge in strictly controlled nearshore areas.

2. Integrated solutions: Sewage + 3. Combined treatment of galley grey and wastewater saves engine room space.

Standard online water quality monitoring: automatic shut-off of discharge exceeding standards, real-time data retention for onboard inspections.

III. Oily Bulch Water Treatment System (OWS)

1、 Latest IMO Policy Changes

MEPC84 officially approved the revision of Annex I to MARPOL, introducing mandatory guidelines for Integrated Bulch Water Treatment Systems (IBTS):

1. Allows vessels of 400 gross tons and above to use evaporative integrated bilge water treatment processes to treat oily sludge, replacing traditional oil-water separators.

2. Upgraded requirements for oil record books and IOPP oil pollution prevention certificates, refining the operation and maintenance records of bilge water discharge and oil discharge monitoring systems (15ppm alarm).

3. Strictly investigate 15ppm alarm failures and unauthorized bypass discharges; penalties in global ECA emission control areas have been doubled.

2、 Hot Market Trends

1. Refurbishment and Retrofitting of Old OWS: Insufficient separation efficiency of aging separators, malfunctioning alarms, batch repair and replacement.

2. Hot-selling Integrated IBTS Units: Oil-water separation + sludge concentration + Integrated waste oil storage reduces pipeline layout and lowers the risk of violations.

3. Intelligent oil discharge monitoring system: remote transmission and anti-bypass tampering design avoids penalties for unauthorized discharge.