Patent ID: 7025889

Claim:
A method of treating ship ballast water to reduce or eliminate the content of microorganisms therein, which is characterized in the steps of: adapting the ballast tank to provide an inlet opening and an outlet opening on opposing sides of the ballast tank for allowing pipe access thereto, whereby the flow of the ballast water into and out of the ballast tank can occur; providing a dispensing pump having an opening for pipe access thereto, and adapted to transfer or cycle the ballast water; positioning a source of UV radiation within a treatment site having an opening for pipe access thereto; providing a transfer pipe operably interconnecting the dispensing pump, the treatment site and the ballast tank, whereby the transfer pipe operably links together the openings whereby ballast water can be transferred therein; providing a seal interconnecting the openings to the transfer pipe to prevent the ballast water from leaking as it is transferred or cycled; transferring ballast water from a ballast tank of a ship to a treatment site; subjecting transferred ballast water to the source of UV radiation for a time and at a sufficient intensity to significantly reduce the content of living organisms and microorganisms therein; monitoring UV exposure rate of the ballast water through use of a UV intensity probe positioned within the treatment site; and cycling treated ballast water back to a ballast tank or hold or another ballast tank or hold of the ship.