MAY 6, 2013 — Hyde Marine, Inc.has named W&O Supply as its exclusive sales distributor in the U.S. and Canada for Hyde Guardian Ballast Water Treatment Systems (BWTS).

The chemical free Hyde Guardian BWTS, which uses filtration and ultraviolet disinfection to treat ballast water to prevent the spread of invasive species is one of the five BWTS that have thus far earned Alternate Management System (AMS) approval from the United States Coast Guard (USCG). It received IMO Type Approval in April 2009 and has Type Approvals from several Class Societies.

According to John Platz, President of Hyde Marine, Jacksonville, Fla.-based W&O will begin selling Hyde Guardian BWTS effective immediately.

"We are pleased to partner with W&O because the company has an outstanding reputation as a premier engineered-solutions provider committed to meeting the needs of the maritime industry," said Mr. Platz. "We are excited about the opportunity to work with W&O to continue the growth of the Hyde Guardian Ballast Water Treatment System business across the U.S. and Canada."

"Ballast water treatment system regulations are affecting the entire marine industry, which is why it was essential to find a trusted and reputable partner we could work with to bring the best solution available to the market," said Michael Hume, CEO of W&O. "We are proud to partner with Hyde Marine, a 148 year old company known for innovation in the marine industry, to help educate our customers and find the best BWTS solutions for their vessels and fleets."

W&O is representing Hyde Guardian at this week's OTC event in Houston.

"With the recent announcement of AMS approval, Hyde Marine and W&O are in a unique position to provide shipowners and operators with ballast water treatment solutions that meet USCG requirements for operation in U.S. waters," said Mr. Platz.

AMS approval is an interim measure that allows BWTS to be used on vessels for five years after the vessel is required to comply with the USCG Ballast Water Discharge Standards. The five-year period is designed to allow the BWTS manufacturer sufficient time to obtain U.S. Type Approval and ensure the ship operator's compliance with U.S. ballast water regulations into the future.

Tested and validated at the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ), one of the most challenging ballast water test facilities in the world, the Hyde Guardian BWTS ultimately became the first BWTS accepted into the U.S. Coast Guard's Shipboard Technology Evaluation Program (STEP), which facilitates the development of effective BWTS technologies for vessel owners seeking alternatives to ballast water exchange.