RWO, a leading supplier of intelligent water management solutions, has been selected by KiwiRail to supply its next-generation advanced water treatment system - the Clean Sewage Membrane Reactor(CS-MBR) – to New Zealand’s Inter-Island Resilient Connection Project(iReX).
Two brand-new custom-built Interislander ROPAX ferries have been ordered to service the connection between Wellington and Picton. Environmental protection is a key priority for the project and both vessels, which are being built at Korean shipyard Hyundai Mipo Dockyard(HMD), will have RWO’s CS-MBR system installed.
RWO’s CS-MBR is a sustainable biological treatment technology that has been designed specifically to minimise a vessel’s impact on the environment, achieve the highest standards for effluent discharge and exceed regulatory requirements. The CS-MBR is also fully type approved in accordance with IMO MEPC.227(64) including section 4.2 which addresses nitrogen and phosphorus removal.
Massimo Soprano, Ships Programme Director, iReX, KiwiRail, said: “The iReX project will transform the Interislander connection by upgrading the existing fleet to improve passenger experience and increase capacity and efficiency. The new ferries will be faster, safer and greener, in line with our aim to create a service that will last generations and contribute to New Zealand’s zero-carbon future.
The first ferry is due to be delivered in 2025, with the second to follow in 2026.