Waste management system for warships makes progress

System will be installed in the new Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers

A key milestone has been marked with the delivery of the final major component of the Integrated Waste Management System (IWMS) for the new Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers.

The last of the six Waste Water Treatment Plants (WWTP) was delivered this month following successful testing.

The IWMS, designed by Babcock, handles the various fluid and solid waste streams generated onboard the aircraft carriers and processes these until the products are benign and compatible with International Maritime Organisation (IMO) requirements for overboard discharge, or can be stored efficiently until landed. It integrates the oily water system, black (sewage) and grey (from showers, sinks, galleys and laundries) water system, and solid waste and final treatment system, which all operate through the ship’s Integrated Platform Management System.

The WWTP is a key component of the IWMS. It processes the black and grey water generated onboard, and discharges permeate compliant with the international standard for marine pollution control.

Babcock’s Defence Systems Technology managing director Jeff Lewis said: “The IMWS is the first coherent integrated waste management system on a warship. It will minimise the manpower requirement associated with waste handling, as well as freeing up valuable on-board storage space and minimising reliance on shore-side facilities. It will also ensure that increasingly stringent environmental and marine pollution control requirements are met. The delivery of this last major component for the IWMS on the two carriers is a key milestone in this contract.”

The 65,000 tonne QE Class aircraft carriers will be the UK’s largest (280 metres long, 74 metres wide, and 56 metres high) and most powerful warships, providing the armed forces with four acremilitary operating bases that can be deployed worldwide.