BWTS & Scrubber Project Management Companies

A scrubber retrofit and a Ballast Water Treatment System retrofit are the two largest non-engine projects most ships will face. Both touch fundamental systems. Exhaust gas routing changes. Seawater piping changes. Electrical loads change. Class certification changes. Both also fail expensively when planned poorly. 

BWTS & scrubber project management companies sit between the shipowner, the equipment vendor, the yard, and class. They turn vendor proposals into a buildable scope and keep the work on time. 

RecordsMarine's directory lists vetted project managers by region, so superintendents can shortlist a partner before yard slots close.

What These Projects Cover

A scrubber retrofit moves the engine exhaust through a cleaning unit before the funnel. A BWTS retrofit fits a treatment unit into the ballast water flow. Each project demands:

• Class society approval of the proposed design
• New 3D piping and arrangement drawings
• Structural calculations for the added equipment loads
• Electrical load studies and switchboard upgrades
• Yard period planning around vessel trading schedules
• Commissioning, sea trials, and crew familiarisation
• Type approval certification under the IMO BWMS Code or MARPOL Annex VI.

Each step has its own paperwork chain. BWTS project management companies keep all of those chains current across vendors who would otherwise hand off work without coordination.

The Cost of a Bad Schedule

A medium-sized scrubber retrofit costs $3 to $8 million. A BWTS install costs $0.5 to $2 million. Schedule slippage on either causes vessel off-hire of $20,000 to $50,000 per day. 

A project manager who flags a late drawing approval or a missing class submission saves several times the fee. 

Three problems cause most overruns. Vendor drawings arrive late. Long-lead orders go in too slowly. Class raises objections that nobody saw coming. Experienced scrubber project management companies track all three from the day the contract is signed.

Scope Coverage

Most project managers cover the full lifecycle:

• Pre-contract feasibility and equipment selection
• Vendor tender review and contract negotiation
• Class submission and approval coordination
• Yard selection and slot booking
• Drawing review and engineering oversight
• Long-lead item procurement and tracking
• On-site supervision during the yard period
• Commissioning, sea trials, and final class certification
• Post-handover warranty and defect coordination.

Some firms specialise. Pre-contract specialists support equipment selection. Yard-period specialists handle on-site oversight. Full-lifecycle firms cover everything from feasibility to handover.

How to Pick a Project Management Partner

A weak project manager wastes the fee and leaves the owner exposed to schedule risk. A strong one earns back several times the cost. Before contract signature with BWTS & scrubber project management companies, confirm:

• Track record on projects of similar size and ship type
• Class society relationships in your flag administration
• Yard relationships in your preferred docking regions
• In-house mechanical, electrical, and class engineering staff
• Transparent fee structure tied to milestones, not hours
• References from owners with comparable fleets.

Vendor Independence

A project manager works for the owner, not for the equipment maker. Some firms accept commission from vendors. Others charge the owner only and refuse vendor payments. The first model can steer the equipment recommendation. The second keeps the recommendation honest. 

Owners should ask how the firm earns its revenue before the contract. The answer often predicts how the technical advice will land later in the project.

Frequently Asked Questions

How early should a project manager be engaged?

Six to twelve months before the planned yard period. Earlier engagement covers equipment selection and vendor tender review. Later engagement misses the highest-leverage decisions.

Can the same firm manage both BWTS and scrubber projects?

Yes, and most owners prefer this when both retrofits run on the same yard slot. One project manager coordinates competing demands on yard space, electrical capacity, and class survey time.

What happens if the equipment vendor falls behind?

A capable project manager catches slippage early through weekly progress reviews. Contract penalty clauses help. The real value sits in the early warning that gives the owner time to book a replacement vendor or extend the yard slot.

Find Project Management Partners Near You

The directory below sorts firms by the most important categories. Send the request for proposal to two or three at once.