A Turnkey, High-Capacity Reverse Osmosis Water Purification Plant Built to US Military Standards
In an era where freshwater security is increasingly paramount for coastal infrastructure, remote industrial developments, marine engineering projects, and humanitarian relief, oithamarine.com is proud to present a rare, high-value asset available for immediate acquisition: Desalination Barge
Engineered and manufactured in the USA to rigorous US Navy and military standards, this asset was originally built for the US Army as a mission-critical standby Reverse Osmosis Water Purification Unit (ROWPU) system. Preserved in exceptional condition and maintained via regular preventative test schedules, this barge represents an immediate solution for operators looking to bypass the extensive lead times, design cycles, and exorbitant capital expenditure of building a new floating desalination plant.
The Ultimate Operational Advantage: Unused & Preserved
Unlike standard used marine tonnage, this barge remains completely unused in production. All original technical equipment was meticulously preserved and labelled from day one, with the core reverse osmosis membranes still safely sealed in their original plastic storage packaging and ready for initialization.
- High-Capacity Output: Capable of generating up to 1,500 m³ (nearly 400,000 gallons) of drinkable water per 24-hour cycle under optimum environmental and operational conditions.
- Absolute Redundancy: Features two identical, independent processing streams (ROWPU 1 and ROWPU 2). These can be run in parallel for maximum output or completely independently to allow for staggered maintenance cycles without interrupting output.
- WHO Compliance: Built to reject 98% salinity, seamlessly processing open-sea saltwater or turbid brackish river water into WHO-compliant potable drinking water. Includes 4 onboard storage tanks providing a combined holding capacity of 15,000 gallons.
Robust Machinery & Low-Hour Power Plants
While the reverse osmosis system has never been put into active commercial service, the barge’s mechanical systems have been carefully maintained through monthly generator and main pump test runs.
- Main RO Pump Engines: Two Caterpillar 3406DI Diesel Engines (325 HP @ 2100 RPM / 250 HP @ 1800 RPM continuous).
- ROWPU 1: Only 841 hours since new.
- ROWPU 2: Only 709 hours since new.
- Bonus Spares: The asset sale includes a total of 4 engines—2 fully assembled in parallel with the main pumps, and 2 brand-new spare engines.
- Electrical Power Generation: Two Caterpillar diesel generator sets (Generator 1: 155 kW Model 3306TA with only 807 hours; Generator 2: 155 kW Model 3306DI in excellent condition with exceptionally low working hours).
- High Pressure Pumps: Roto-Jet V-belt driven pumps, rated at 350 GPM at a high-performance back pressure of 805 PSI (5,550 kPa). Because these are belt-driven, they offer an easy retrofitting path to electric motor drives if your operations prefer shore or hybrid power.
Self-Sustaining Infrastructure & Long-Reach Delivery
Barge 231A is outfitted to operate as a completely self-sustaining industrial outpost. It features its own integrated Chlorine Manufacturing Plant on board, mitigating the need for dangerous, complicated chemical transport logistics.
For deep-water offshore positioning, it is equipped with a stable 4-point anchoring system utilizing four 8,000 lbs winches, 600 ft wire ropes, and 1,000 lbs standard Danforth anchors (engineered for environmental stability up to Sea State 3). When pumping water to land, its premium Coflexip Shore Discharge Hydraulic Hose Reel rolls out an incredible 2,500 feet (762 meters) of delivery hose, allowing the barge to stay safely in deep water (minimum 15 feet requirement at low tide) while pushing clean water directly to municipal or industrial grids onshore.
Fully Equipped Onboard Workshop & Accommodations
- Heavy Lifting: Outfitted with a heavy-duty bow crane (GRU Idrauliche / Morgan Crane Co. articulating crane lifting up to 41,895 lbs at 6’7″ or 2,425 lbs at 30′), alongside an internal 5-ton Spanmaster overhead electric work crane.
- Machine Shop: Features a complete workshop including a FAMCO press, Rockwell pillar drill, Baldor grinding wheel, industrial vice, and workbenches—enabling the crew to perform any immediate mechanical repair at sea.
- Crew Quarters: Designed for continuous 24-hour operations, the air-conditioned accommodations sleep up to 9 crew members (3 bunk beds), complete with a dining area, an industrial fridge/freezer, and 2 washing machines.
Lean Operational Economics
The plant requires a highly efficient crew to maintain continuous production: just one mechanical engineer, one electrician to manage the engines/gensets, and one water analysis technician. Fuel consumption profiles remain exceptionally economical, with the Caterpillar generators consuming 12.7 gallons/hour at 100% power (dropping to just 4.2 gallons/hour at 25% power) and the main RO pumps consuming approximately 18 gallons/hour under max
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