Kymen Vesi Oy’s Baltic Sea commitment

Organisation: Kymen Vesi Oy

Time:  8.2.2022 –  8.2.2024

Description:

Kymen Vesi Oy is a water utilities company in southern Kymenlaakso, owned by three municipalities; and serving the residents of Kotka, Kouvola and Pyhtää. The Mussalo wastewater treatment plant treats the wastewater collected from Kotka, Hamina, Pyhtää, Virojoki, Miehikkälä and southern Kouvola.

Our pledge is to become carbon neutral by 2035, which requires cutting emissions, for example by improving energy efficiency in pumping stations, heat recovery from wastewater, a solar system and switching to lower-emission vehicles. Additionally, our involvement in research and development projects will further promote environmental protection and sustainable development.

With the Baltic Sea commitment for 2022-2024, Kymen Vesi commits to offer its resources, expertise, and financial support to improve the state of the Baltic Sea.

The focus will be on implementing permanent changes, following the results of Ship Waste Action initiative, coordinated by BSAG. Specifically, our efforts will be directed towards the treatment of cargo ship-generated effluents for the production of biogas.

The commitment consists of three objectives:

Kymen Vesi will receive the cargo ship-generated wastewater, which has been discharged in the port of HaminaKotka, and can be treated to e.g., produce biogas; and
collaborates with ship brokers, the port, the carriers, and the sewage sludge handlers to ensure a smooth process and flow of information
strives to find solutions, in collaboration with the port, to resolve the logistical challenges related to cargo ships that carry large volumes of wastewater
the aim of the trial is to establish a permanent, multi-stakeholder collaboration for the treatment of ship-generated effluents, at the port.
Kymen Vesi will support the successful implementation of the pilot scheme, through its own endeavours and will continue to actively promote the opportunities available –
by collecting samples, analysing results, and reporting on the quality of the wastewater and parameters, as per the agreement. Therefore, resulting in an increase in both information on the potential for recovery of effluents; and an understanding of the usage of the vessel’s treatment facilities.
by providing BSAG with the results from the analysis, so that these may be used effectively to reduce the load in the Baltic Sea; for example, by authorities, in research, theses or other work aimed at developing the field in Finland and internationally.
by appropriately investigating, in collaboration with the port, options for long-term development of wastewater management, at the port. This may include e.g., the construction of a fixed unloading line, mobile intermediate storage facility, complementary means of receiving and delivering ship-generated effluents, for treatment.*
Kymen Vesi will further strengthen the circular economy of ship-generated wastewater after the end of the pilot phase
by utilising learnings from the pilot phase to further develop in-house processes.
by analysing the characteristics of ship-generated effluents throughout the commitment period and enabling these results to be used in a variety of ways for the benefit of the Baltic Sea.
With this commitment, Kymen Vesi will contribute to the joint efforts in Ship Waste Action, thereby enabling the development of maritime operators and promoting the circular economy, in maritime transport. Additionally, Kymen Vesi agrees to bring the collaboration referred to in this document, into account in its own communications. The progress of the pilot phase will be regularly monitored in joint meetings.

The duration of the commitment is 3 years, and its progress will be reviewed annually with BSAG.