Technology group Wärtsilä has launched the GREASE TRAP GM Series, a new modular product line designed to separate fats, oils, and grease from galley wastewater streams aboard merchant vessels, cruise ships, and offshore platforms — addressing one of the more routine but operationally consequential challenges in onboard environmental compliance. The system, available from May 2026, uses a gravity-based separation process aligned with BS EN 1825, the European standard for grease separators, capturing grease at the source before it can enter shipboard discharge systems and reach the marine environment.

The practical case for grease management aboard ships is straightforward: uncontrolled accumulation of fats, oils, and grease within pipework and wastewater treatment systems is a leading cause of blockages, unplanned maintenance, and operational disruptions at sea — where servicing options are limited and downtime is costly. Wärtsilä’s GM Series addresses this by intercepting grease at the galley level, using a separation chamber where solids settle and lower-density grease rises to a dedicated collection zone before clarified water flows onward through the vessel’s discharge system. The product line is available in four sizes to accommodate different vessel types and operational scales, with configuration options ranging from a straightforward manual solution to a system designed to simplify grease removal and reduce hands-on crew maintenance requirements.

Critically, the GM Series is designed for both newbuild integration and retrofit installation, with a modular architecture that allows the system to connect into existing or planned wastewater systems with minimal complexity. For fleet operators navigating tightening environmental regulations — including stricter port state controls on discharge compliance in Emission Control Areas and environmentally sensitive waters — the ability to retrofit proven, standardized wastewater technology across a mixed-age fleet is a meaningful operational and compliance advantage. The product forms part of Wärtsilä Water & Waste’s broader environmental solutions portfolio, which covers wastewater treatment, ballast water management, and freshwater generation, supported by a global service network for spare parts, technical support, and lifecycle maintenance.