Systems Integration/Concept Design: MSC Watson Class Waste Management Study
Military Sealift Command (MSC) required an assessment and recommendations to address the following issues:
- Oily Waste, Solid Waste equipment, systems and procedures inefficient
- Systems require operator intervention
- Necessitates use of expensive disposal services
The goal of this study was to recommend several sustainable waste management design options that reduce operator intervention and 20-year ship operating costs.
The GBS Group carried out a number of tasks to accomplish the goal, including ship checks, ship class surveys to collect waste generation rates, offload/disposal costs, maintenance records, labor rates, etc., and data analysis to identify inefficiencies in waste management systems and procedures.
The GBS Group also conducted market surveys to provide design options, with Business Case Analysis to improve system and equipment efficiency and reduce operator intervention and ship operating costs. Design options included euipment modifications and replacements. System integration recommendations included:
- Modifications to the ER oily waste holding tank (OWHT) to use it as a first stage, pre-settling tank to improve oil and water gravity separation prior to processing by the bilge OWS; or the installation of a sludge dewater system
- A polisher (secondary treatment) be installed on the existing cargo hold (CH) OWS to improve performance
- Modify the existing incinerator by fitting it with a steam heating coil and insulating the sludge tank to increase operating efficiency
