Canadian dry bulk shipping company Fednav Limited has received a 34,500dwt ocean-going laker from the Oshima Shipbuilding in Japan, the first-ever vessel transiting the Great Lakes to be equipped with a ballast water treatment system.

Fednav, an international operator in the Great Lakes/Saint Lawrence Seaway System, announced in April that it would equip twelve of its new ships with these systems.

The newly delivered Federal Biscay is destined to ship general cargo to the Great Lakes and bulk commodities, such as grain, from the Midwest to world markets.

Developed by JFE Engineering Corporation in Japan, the BallastAce system will be effective in both fresh and salt water. BallastAce operates through a filter and sodium hypochlorite (bleach) injection mechanism in the ship's ballast system.

"This is a pivotal step in protecting the Great Lakes against invasive species and preserving biodiversity in the region," said Paul Pathy, president and co-CEO of Fednav Limited.

"Fednav is proud to be the first shipping company to deploy such systems, and we are pleased that the Federal Biscay is serving as a test ship for this technology."