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FAST® HISTORY AND EXPERIENCE

1969

Pending the EPA’s clean water act of 1972. Th USEPA tasked St. Louis Ship Building to make a prototype marine FAST sewage treatment system. Through a collaboration with the University of Kansas (KU), this sparked the inception of an aerobic, wastewater treatment system that utilizes a completely submerged, fixed film process – the FAST® System was born. The first Fixed Activate Sludge Treatment (FAST®) system as a prototype for installation aboard the river towboat M/V Missouri in 1969. This prototype installation was an immediate success.

1973

After years of successful operation aboard three towboats, FAST unit sales and production began. Even though there were no Federal rules before 1972, towboats operating on the Great Rivers had to meet individual State regulations.

1975

Congress issued 33 CFR Part 159, at the request of the USEPA. The US Coast Guard (USCG) was tasked with certifying Marine Sanitation Devices (MSD). Official testing was done aboard the towboat M/V United States while underway, the FAST unit passed all tests and FAST obtained USCG certification.

1978

Canada issued their Pollution Prevention Regulations for the Canadian waters of the Great Lakes. At that time, it was the strictest marine standard in the world. A production FAST® Model 40D with UV disinfection passed all tests with results that were so outstanding that the testing laboratory personnel were amazed. Additional tests were run for USCG with chlorine disinfection and the results were similarly outstanding.

In the late 1990’s Scienco/FAST® and MarineFAST® was merged into one organization and sold to BioMicrobics®, Inc.

2011

A production FAST Model LX3M passed all tests specified by Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular (NVIC) No. 01-09 including but not limited to IMO Resolution MEPC.159(55) and MARPOL, with results every bit as outstanding as those achieved in 1978.

2012

USCG certified all standard and custom FAST® Models under IMO’s, MARPOL and MEPC.159(55) and NVIC No. 01-09.Transport Canada certified all standard and custom FAST® Models under Regulations for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships and for Dangerous Chemicals (SQR/2007-86).

2015

Received the “Innovation in Marine Environmental Technology” for Offshore Excellence Award, based on environmental impact with marine sanitation devices and technology.

2016

USCG and Transport Canada certified all standard and custom FAST® Models under MARPOL, MEPC.227(64) using either chlorine or peracetic acid (PAA) disinfection. PAA is environmentally friendly and does not produce harmful byproducts. Also, use of PAA substantially reduced the cost of MARPOL certified FAST® units.

 

2019

In 2019, Scienco/FAST® introduced the SaniLift™, a compact and reliable wastewater transfer system designed for marine use and engineered to move blackwater, graywater, or other wastewater from collection points to treatment systems or holding tanks.

The MMBR-MarineBioBarrier MBR treatment system was developed, an advanced Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) wastewater treatment system designed specifically for marine applications —meeting IMO MEPC.227(64) standards with nutrient removal Ideal for vessels and offshore platforms requiring the highest level of environmental compliance.

2020

In 2020, Scienco/FAST® launched the PortaFAST®, a portable, self-contained fully enclosed rest room system, built in a standard shipping container, designed for use on a dock or platform, and can be permanently mounted or for temporary use.

2021

In 2021, Scienco/FAST® introduced Danolyte®, an EPA-registered, electrochemically-activated solution for disinfection and sanitation. Scienco/FAST® also expanded its capabilities with the addition of the InTankBallast® division, specializing in in-tank ballast water treatment technology. This strategic addition positioned the company to offer innovative choices for IMO and USCG-compliant ballast water management.

2022

In 2022, Scienco/FAST® developed the MarineFAST® Slide-In System, a pre-assembled, slide-in solution for quick and easy marine sanitation retrofits and using the vessels own hull tanks. Designed for space-limited vessels, this system simplifies and dramatically reduces installation costs of the MarineFAST® system.

2024

In 2024, Scienco/FAST® introduced the SaniVAC, a high-efficiency vacuum toilet system designed for marine applications and engineered for low water use.

Over 3,000 Marine & Offshore Installations

Installed aboard towboats, tugs, offshore supply vessels, diving support vessels, semisubmersibles, offshore platforms, Warships, drill ships, crane barges, pilot boats, shop and office barges, container ships, tankers, bulk carriers, research vessels, icebreakers, survey ships, school ships, river towboats, harbor tugs, cruise ships, float homes, etc.

DID YOU KNOW?

FAST® processes raw, unscreened sewage as it is produced

FAST® units are capable of handling any combination of blackwater, graywater, ground food waste, freshwater, seawater, vacuum toilets and conventional toilets. No macerators, grinders, pretreatment or flow equalization tanks are required.

The process is very turbulent and the airlifts used for oxygen transfer throw foreign objects to the sides of the tank where they will not interfere with the process. There are no moving parts in contact with sewage, no filters, membranes or fine pore aerators to blind or plug.

FAST® units provide outstanding effluent quality without any filters or membranes. Consider official testing under three separate regulations over a 50 year span and with standard production units:

Parameter
units
BOD5
mg/l		 TSS
mg/l
Canadian Great Lakes
Official Test Results 5.3 2.76
Effluent Requirement 50 50
US Coast Guard 33CFR159
Official Test Results 3.2 4.2
Effluent Requirement n/a 150
MEPC.159(55)
Official Test Results 4.1 5.8
Effluent Requirement 25 35
Definitions
BOD5 – 5 day biochemical oxygen demand
TSS – total suspended solids

Many biological processes are upset by light loading. The only effect on FAST® is that the effluent quality is even better.

FAST® starts up much faster than conventional suspended growth processes. Also, FAST® is self-starting without powdered bacteria or activated sludge from another sewage treatment plant. In the real world, all biological processes are upset from time to time. FAST® handles these quickly and automatically and no operator intervention is required.

Why Buy FAST®

Great Process

The FAST® process is a winner. It meets the strictest effluent regulations without filters, membranes, microprocessors, adjustments, gimmicks or trained operators.

FAST® actually works on ships and platforms in the real world and not just in land certification tests. There are no adjustments and performance does not depend upon the skill of the operator.

The FAST® process can handle any combination of blackwater, graywater, ground food waste, freshwater, seawater, vacuum toilets and conventional toilets.

We see inquiries for sewage treatment systems from time to time where a spare sewage treatment unit is specified.

FAST® units can be fitted with dual blowers or duplex discharge pumps if desired. But, there is no need for a spare FAST® unit.

Steel tanks are designed to ABS Deep Tank Standards. In a manner of speaking they are as strong as the ship and will probably last just as long.

Polyethylene tanks are so strong that they are certified by DOT for transport of hazardous waste on common carriers. These tanks are also immune to marine corrosion and vibration.

As a standard, FAST® units are designed to handle seawater sewage. Steel tanks employ large access hatches for efficient blasting and painting.

All tank seams and penetrations are full welded both sides (some standards only require this for fuel tanks and allow water tanks to be welded on one side only).

Surfaces are grit blasted to white metal with the right profile and then given two good coats of epoxy resin. All weld seams are brush coated.

Threaded penetrations and all fasteners and assembly hardware inside and outside are 316SS.