Posted on November 24, 2025
Wärtsilä Water & Waste, part of technology group Wärtsilä, continues to deliver exceptional wastewater treatment performance in one of the world’s most closely monitored marine environments through their Hamworthy membrane bioreactor (MBR) systems, according to independent regulatory data from the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).
During the 2024 Alaska cruise season, fourteen vessels equipped with Wärtsilä’s Hamworthy MBR systems achieved a 98.2% compliance rate under DEC’s public testing programme. This performance surpassed the overall fleet average of 94.7% and other manufacturers’ systems, which averaged a 90.8% compliance rate.
Each year, Alaska’s DEC requires all large cruise ships operating in its waters to collect treated wastewater samples for laboratory analysis, with every result published vessel-by-vessel. The data represents one of the most rigorous and transparent performance programmes in maritime environmental regulation.
“Alaska’s Environmental Compliance Report provides real-world validation of system performance,” said Peter Satchwell, Global Sales Director, Wärtsilä Water & Waste. “Our MBR systems are tested under genuine operating conditions on vessels sailing in Alaskan waters – and the results speak to the reliability and consistency of our MBR solutions . This independent verification reinforces the confidence our customers place in our technology to meet the most demanding environmental standards.”
Wärtsilä’s Hamworthy MBR technology combines biological treatment and membrane filtration to achieve stable, high-quality effluent without chemical disinfectants. Continuous monitoring of process parameters and a digital feedback loop with Wärtsilä’s technical support teams ensure performance remains consistent across different ships, crews, and itineraries.
Peter Satchwell added: “Independent verification builds trust. The fact that our performance is independently verified through Alaska’s open reporting system demonstrates the advantage of our design philosophy, where compliance is paramount. We are proud to have reached this high watermark for performance and to support our customers to operate safely, cleanly, and efficiently no matter where they are in the world.”
The findings reaffirm Wärtsilä Water & Waste’s long-term commitment to system reliability and environmental stewardship. The company’s solutions enable ship operators to meet demanding discharge standards while supporting global efforts to protect marine ecosystems.
Media contact for more information on this release:
Roberta Dina
Marketing Manager
Wärtsilä Water & Waste
roberta.dina@wartsila.com
Tel. +44 07388 913 858
Wärtsilä Portfolio Business in brief
Wärtsilä Portfolio Business units are run independently to accelerate performance improvement and unlock value through divestments or other strategic alternatives.
Wärtsilä Water & Waste, part of Wärtsilä Portfolio Business, offers the widest portfolio of environmental solutions that meet all existing and anticipated regulations, including regulations for environmentally sensitive areas. We support our customers with a complete lifecycle offering to ensure the highest operational efficiency, compliance and enhanced envi-ronmental performance. Wärtsilä Water & Waste has developed a broad range of specialized and proven environmental products, such as Wastewater treatment (conventional biological sewage treatment plants and advanced membrane bioreactors), Ballast water management systems, Fresh Water generation (reverse osmosis plants and evaporators).
www.wartsila.com/waw
Wärtsilä in brief
Wärtsilä is a global leader in innovative technologies and lifecycle solutions for the marine and energy markets. We emphasise innovation in sustainable technology and services to help our customers continuously improve environmental and economic performance. Our dedicated and passionate team of 18,300 professionals in more than 230 locations in 77 countries shape the decarbonisation transformation of our industries across the globe. In 2024, Wärtsilä’s net sales totalled EUR 6.4 billion. Wärtsilä is listed on Nasdaq Helsinki.
www.wartsila.com
