The MV: Questions answered...

I got some interesting facts and figures about H20 and the MV Explorer via an email the other day. A bunch of you have been emailing me and asking me things like these, so enjoy!

 

--Greg

 

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1. How much water can the ship hold? Do we enter ports with a full storage of water?

542.6 m³ 143196 gallons / Yes, that is always the goal, but not always possible if short distance in between ports for onboard production.

 

2. How much water is used on a daily basis at sea and can we get comparison figures for in port?

Average consumption at sea 285 m³ / 75000 gallons per day

In port an average of 120 m³/31500 gallons per day if reduced amount of passenger onboard or passengers adhere to water conservation

4. Why can't we make water in port? Might be helpful to people who don't know...

The ship is using osmotic generators to produce water; this operation can only be done at sea in non polluted waters, at a certain depth of water and distance fro shore and underway.

5. How soon after leaving port can we begin making water?

Depending of above criteria - average 1 hour

7. Is there a certain range of water usage that is considered acceptable for a ship this size with this many people on it? (They're looking for a range we can set as a target goal.)

The less the better, below 120 m³/31500 gallons per day is a good target. But keep in mind it’s not the fresh water consumption that is the issue, it is the waste water generation.

8. What happens to the water we use - our waste water?

There are two kinds of waste waters accumulated from the accommodation:

Gray Water:

The term grey water is used on the ships to refer to the wastewater that is generally incidental to the operation of the ship: drainage from dishwashers, shower, laundry, bath and washbasin drains.

Its discharged at sea only when underway and 4 nautical miles away from the nearest land or such other distance agreed with authorities having jurisdiction or provided by local laws except in an emergency, where geographically limited. The discharge must be made when the ship is at a speed of not less than 6 knots, this standard is set to ensure the dispersion and the mix of these discharges is the best, helped by the action of the propellers since they’re discharged approximately 10-14 feet below the surface.

In port GW have to be kept on holding tanks or discharged ashore to reception facility where possible.

 

Black Water:

Definition Black water is the wastewater that comes from the toilets, urinals, drainage from medical premises (dispensary, sick bay, etc.) via wash basins, wash tubs and scuppers.

Handling Method

It is separated in special holding tanks from other wastewaters before processing and/or discharge.

It is treated before discharge using a Marine Sanitation Device approved by the US Coast Guard and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Marine Sanitation Devices use physical, chemical and/or biological processes to allow effluent from the process to be discharged with characteristics that are similar to effluents from conventional wastewater treatment plants ashore.

After treated, black water can be discharged at sea only when the ship is more than 4 nautical miles away from the nearest land or  greater distance agreed with authorities having jurisdiction or provided by local laws (if not treated not less than 12 NM) and underway making way at not less than 6 knots.

9. What is the exact number of people on the ship?

844 passengers and 203 crew