ERMA FIRST acquires Ecochlor to expand global BWTS footprint

November 15, 2024, by Naida Hakirevic Prevljak

Greek ballast water treatment specialist ERMA FIRST has completed the acquisition of its US-based counterpart, Ecochlor, as part of its growth strategy to increase market share.

The acquisition is expected to help ERMA FIRST broaden the range of ultra-efficient ballast water treatment systems (BWTSs), future-proof decarbonization solutions and related services, consolidating the company’s status as “one of the world’s largest BWTS providers”.

“We are delighted to announce the acquisition of Ecochlor in a move that consolidates our position as a world-leading provider of BWTS and our continuing growth as a one-stop shop for green ship operations,” Konstantinos Stampedakis, Co-Founder and Managing Director, ERMA FIRST, said.

“By combining the portfolios and service capabilities of ERMA FIRST GROUP and Ecochlor, the acquisition extends our reach as a future-proof partner equipped to help shipping meet its environmental obligations,” he added.

“ERMA FIRST GROUP is dedicated to protecting and preserving the marine ecosystem by continuously developing and expanding its portfolio of innovative and future-proof environmental protection solutions,” Eleni Polychronopoulou, President, ERMA FIRST, commented.

According to the duo, Ecochlor’s ClO2-based technology offers a simple means of treating ballast water while at the same time helping to further reduce fuel consumption and emissions due to the system’s low power requirements.

As informed, Ecochlor’s BWTS portfolio comprises a filtration- and ClO2-based system and two versions of the EcoOne solution. The first is a filterless system that uses ClO2 alone and consumes just 10–20 kilowatts of power even at very-high flow rates. The second hybrid system deploys either a two-step filtration and ClO2 process or filterless ClO2-based operations only, depending on shipowner requirements.

The Ecochlor BWTS secured its market position by using a low dose of its proprietary chlorine dioxide (ClO2) solution, the EcoBlue, to treat ballast water in a highly efficient one- or two-step process. EcoBlue is the only chemical globally to be approved for use in Ecochlor systems under IMO and USCG type approval certificates.

ERMA FIRST’s global reach is expected to strengthen further the system’s established chemical resupply and service network, which supports optimal Ecochlor BWTS performance wherever vessels sail. In addition to that, the use of ERMA FIRST spare parts safeguards the operation of every BWTS.

In related news, ERMA FIRST joined a month ago the RightShip Zero Harm Innovation Partners Program which aims to promote the adoption of solutions targeting a zero-harm maritime industry. Specifically, ERMA FIRST offers several future-proof maritime sustainability solutions such as alternative maritime power (AMP), carbon capture and storage (CCS), and energy-saving devices (ESDs).

In June this year, the company was contracted to install its CCS system onboard four new 22,000 cbm liquefied CO2 (LCO2) carriers that will join Capital Gas’ managed fleet in 2026.