Verbesserung der Bilgewasserentölung kleiner und mittelgroßer Schiffe
Projektdurchführung
Universität Rostock
Lehrstuhl Schiffbau
Albert-Einstein-Str. 2
18059 Rostock
Zielsetzung
Vision.
The vision of the EcoBilge project is to protect marine and inland waters through improved bilge-water de-oiling on inboard-motor vessels under 400 GT (“target vessels”), in order to preserve biodiversity, habitats, and the human food base.
Problem.
There is currently a lack of environmentally friendly, efficient, and affordable solutions for bilge-water de-oiling on vessels under 400 GT, meaning boats between 8 and 40 meters in length. This gap triggers a structural, multifactorial problem (“vicious cycle”) resulting in significant water pollution whose true extent remains scientifically unknown. The absence of suitable technical options leads to inadequate legal frameworks, enabling bilge dumping disguised with detergents. This reduces public awareness and prevents the generation of scientific evidence and technical solutions. As a result, societal mobilization does not occur, further inhibiting political action. This cycle urgently needs to be broken.
Objectives.
The EcoBilge research project aims to break this cycle through three main objectives. The first is applied technical research to provide a feasible solution. An existing prototype for gravity-based oily-water separation, proven functional in pilot studies in Brazil, will be rebuilt, tested under different parameters, and optimized where necessary. A technical review and feasibility studies will also be conducted.
The second objective is basic research to scientifically demonstrate that the problem exists. Three interdisciplinary studies in marine and freshwater biology, marketing, and law will show that oils and detergents are present in harbour basins of small and medium-sized vessels, that boat owners lack accessible means for bilge de-oiling, and that regulations at various levels are insufficient.
The third objective includes public-outreach activities and continuation measures, such as preparatory steps toward company formation and initial pilot customer acquisition. Furthermore, the transferability of the EcoBilge principle to other uses, such as oil-spill response, will be outlined.
Environment.
The project supports SDG 12 by avoiding waste (no cleaning or absorbent agents), saving resources (no energy or diesel), and enabling recycling of collected waste oil. It supports SDG 14 by preventing oil pollution through integrated bilge-water treatment, which also advances SDG 3, as oil-free waters are vital for the human food chain and healthy lives.
Arbeitsschritte
The EcoBilge project comprises three milestones with seven work packages over 24 months. Milestone 1 (WP1–3) focuses on technical optimization under Prof. Sprenger’s leadership, while Milestones 2–3 (WP4–7) address interdisciplinary research and dissemination under Dr. Schaumburg’s direction.
Milestone 1: Technical Development (WP1–3).
M1 includes construction of a transparent 1:2 scale separator model to visualize fluid-flow behavior and analyze the separation process. A systematic review of existing onboard products and land-based de-oiling methods identifies market gaps and compares costs, efficiency, and environmental impact. Feasibility studies test and optimize the gravity-based separation system under varying conditions (temperature, pressure, salinity), demonstrating a practical and cost-effective solution.
Milestone 2: Interdisciplinary Evidence (WP4–6).
M2 comprises anonymous surveys of vessel operators and marina staff to assess dumping experiences and market acceptance of integrated solutions. Water sampling in marinas in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern measures the hydrocarbon index (C10–C40) to test the bilge-dumping hypothesis. Legal analysis examines international, European, and German frameworks, testing the hypothesis that current regulations are unclear and insufficient, thereby providing a basis for future legislative action.
Milestone 3: Dissemination (WP7).
M3 ensures outreach through accelerator programs, pilot customer acquisition, partnerships, competition applications, conferences, and media engagement, laying the groundwork for continuation beyond DBU funding.
Project Timeline.
The 24-month project follows a phased approach: technical foundation building (PM1–5), parallel interdisciplinary research (PM6–20), and synthesis and publication (PM20–24).
Innovation.
The project advances knowledge by scientifically documenting bilge dumping on vessels < 400 GT for the first time through integrated biological, legal, and market studies. Technologically, it transfers gravity-based separation principles from proven applications to the bilge environment, offering a simpler, maintenance-free alternative to absorption-based systems and establishing gravity separation as the leading de-oiling principle for the target vessel segment.
Environmental Impact.
Conservative estimates indicate that widespread EcoBilge adoption could protect 2.3 trillion liters of water annually based solely on existing recreational vessels lacking separator access.