Evac Group is one of the world’s leading providers of integrated waste, wastewater and water management systems for the cruise industry. World Cruise Industry Review talks to Ljubo Jurisevic, president of Evac’s cruise division, about the company’s latest technological innovations.
Why should cruise operators opt for the wastewater solutions provided by Evac over its competition?
Ljubo Jurisevic: Evac is one of the leading providers of wastewater treatment solutions for the cruise, offshore and marine industries. We’re a global company; our representatives and service specialists are present in over 40 countries, including the US, China and Brazil. Perhaps most importantly, Evac is the only company operating in this sector with two biological treatment technologies in its product portfolio: our membrane bioreactor (MBR) and the moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR). Both products allow a vessel to operate without limitations in many Environmentally Sensitive Sea Areas (ESSAs) and Special Areas (SAs).
Evac MBRs are widely used in different vessel types. They have low overall chemical consumption, are highly automated and produce reliable effluent results. We offer units that include a cost-efficient solution for nutrient removal, enabling operation in SAs. Our Evac EcoOcean MBBR units are also used widely by cruise operators. This system retains affordable operation and maintenance costs thanks to its low chemical and energy consumption, and its highly efficient dissolved air flotation units and ultra-compact polishing filter.
How does the installation of the new Evac Complete Cleantech Solution help vessels overcome the primary challenges that come with running waste and water management systems?
The operation of waste and wastewater treatment systems installed on a modern cruise vessel can often prove very complex – a fact that is often explained by the installation and use of multiple control interfaces manufactured separately by many different companies.
By simply purchasing all of their waste and water management systems from one supplier, operators can eliminate all of these problems in one fell swoop. It is for this reason that more operators are acquiring the Evac Complete Cleantech Solution, which covers all of the waste, wastewater and fresh-water management needs of its user.
The Evac Complete Cleantech Solution includes vacuum toilet systems, wastewater treatment, dry and wet waste treatment, and fresh-water management. All integrated Evac systems have a similar user interface, simplifying operation, supervision and maintenance. Our intelligent automation system monitors and controls the different waste streams, ensuring optimal treatment.
What priority do you place on in-house research and development to enhance your product range?
We continuously refine our different product lines to make them more energy efficient. For instance, we have the most energy-efficient vacuum collecting unit in the marine industry. Our new Optima 5 vacuum toilet is the quietest on the market, and we are the sole supplier of vacuum urinals. Another example is our Evac ROSYS reverse osmosis seawater desalination unit, which is more economical than evaporators or bunkering water.
What trends in waste management aboard cruise vessels is Evac seeking to integrate into its product line?
The recycling of dry waste such as tins, cardboard and paper is becoming a greater priority for the cruise industry at large. Evac offers different solutions to cater to this trend, including densifiers, compactors and the new briquetting unit, which reduces ship waste volume by factor 1:10.
The Evac briquetting unit can also process recyclable and non-recyclable waste. Recyclable waste of the same
kind can be briquetted ready for processing on shore, while non-recyclable waste briquettes can be burned in Evac’s incinerator. Our customers can choose between the different options in a way that best meets their operational needs.
