FAST® HISTORY AND EXPERIENCE

1969

The prototype marine FAST sewage treatment system was installed aboard the towboat M/V Missouri while the vessel was underway. It 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 1975, towboats operating on the Great Rivers had to meet individual State regulations.

1975

The US Coast Guard (USCG) issued Marine Sanitation Devices 33 CFR Part 159. 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.

St. Louis Ship Company approached S&L to develop a marine wastewater treatment device that would allow onboard wastewater to be reused for toilet flushing. 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 along with a passive recycle system without pumped recirculation or drying of the bacterial growth on the media – 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. Additional prototypes were produced and immediately installed aboard M/V Herman Pott and M/V Tom Talbert.

2011*

A production FAST Model L-3X passed all tests specified by Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular (NVIC) No. 01-09 including but not limited to IMO Resolution MEPC.159(55) with results every bit as outstanding as those achieved in 1978.

2012*

USCG certified all standard and custom FAST Models under 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 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.

Over 2,000 Marine & Offshore Installations

Installed aboard towboats, tugs, offshore supply vessels, diving support vessels, semisubmersibles, offshore platforms, 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.

Over 80,000 Land Installations

Serving single homes up to and including small cities. The system at Tokoroa, New Zealand processes 6,000 m3/d (1.5 MGD) from 15,000 people.

*All claims for the FAST process and for FAST sewage treatment systems are supported with over 65 years of research, development and real world operating experience.