A key milestone has been marked with the delivery by Babcock 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 was delivered in April following successful Factory Acceptance Testing.
The Babcock-designed IWMS 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.