Bilge Water Treatment

What is bilgewater?

Bilgewater forms from leaks of saltwater, cooling water, fuel oil, and lube oil, as well as from draining sedimentation and sludge tanks, cleaning processes, and accumulated soot and dirt. The IMO (International Maritime Organization)  mandates that before bilgewater can be discharged into the sea, its oil content must be reduced to below 15 ppm. However, traditional separation methods often fail to achieve this limit cost-effectively.

Reducing oil content to <5 ppm

15 ppm without a filter

GEA has set a new benchmark in bilgewater treatment. Our GEA bilge Separators with integrated direct drive achieve residual oil content of 15 ppm across all performance classes – without the need for an additional adsorption filter or chemicals. This is made possible by:

• Optimized product feed into the bowl and disk stack for gentler processing.
• Increased clarifying area for superior oil-water separation.

5 ppm with a filter

As global environmental regulations tighten – especially in ecologically sensitive areas – many shipping companies now require bilgewater with residual oil content below 5 ppm. GEA meets these stricter standards with optional filtration add-ons, ensuring compliance with even the most demanding national and international regulations.

 Recycled oil: a cost-effective & sustainable advantage

Unlike traditional separation methods that require expensive chemicals, frequent manual cleaning, or filter replacements, the GEA bilge Separator system offers:

• Self-cleaning & fully automated operation – requires no additional personnel.
• Economic efficiency – recovered oil can be reused as fuel.
• Environmental sustainability – reduces hazardous waste and chemical usage.

Invest in a sustainable, cost-effective bilgewater treatment solution.