A Compact Solution for Shipboard Waste Management
Proper waste disposal onboard ships is not merely an operational convenience—it is a regulatory obligation under MARPOL Annex V, which prohibits the discharge of most garbage into the sea. As marine pollution continues to draw global attention, ship operators face increasing pressure to implement effective onboard waste handling systems. The Siedon Marine Crusher SR30 addresses this challenge directly, offering a compact, reliable, and cost-effective solution for reducing shipboard waste volume before storage, compaction, or incineration.
Designed for the Marine Environment
The SR30 is a slow-rotating, dual-shaft shredder specifically engineered for marine and offshore applications. Unlike conventional industrial shredders, this unit is built with the unique constraints of a vessel in mind: limited space, continuous operation demands, and the need for minimal maintenance in an isolated environment. Its compact footprint and lightweight construction make it suitable for installation in confined machine spaces or waste handling rooms onboard ships and platforms.
The machine weighs approximately 350 kg, with dimensions of 1020 × 890 × 1820 mm, allowing it to fit into tight spaces without compromising functionality. Available in both stationary and mobile configurations—the latter featuring a substructure and discharge bin as a “complete solution”—the SR30 can be deployed quickly and integrated into existing waste management systems without extensive modification.
Operational Principle and Capabilities
At the heart of the SR30 are two counter-rotating shafts fitted with circular blades that employ extrusion, shearing, and tearing actions to reduce material size. The waste is fed through a hopper above the crushing chamber; the rotating blades, equipped with hooks, draw material toward the center of the shredding chamber. Once shredded, the material falls by gravity into a collection bin below.
This design allows the SR30 to process a wide range of shipboard waste, including general waste, cardboard, paper, food waste, plastic bottles, aluminum cans, glass, bones, and wood. The output size is reduced to ≤25 mm, achieving a volume reduction of up to 80% depending on the material fraction. This dramatic reduction in volume directly addresses one of the primary logistical challenges at sea: limited storage capacity between port calls.
Performance and Safety Features
The SR30 is engineered for dependable, low-maintenance operation. Key technical specifications include a 3 kW motor (with a 4 kW drive motor available in certain configurations), a feed opening of 300 × 300 mm, and a processing capacity of 200 kg/h. The machine operates at low speed with high torque, which not only ensures effective shredding of tough materials but also results in low noise levels—a critical consideration in the enclosed spaces of a ship.
Safety is integrated into every aspect of the design. The door below the shredding chamber is equipped with a safety switch that prevents the shredder from starting when the door is open, eliminating the risk of accidental contact with moving mechanical parts. Additionally, the SR30 features PLC automatic overload protection and an automatic reverse function in case of blockage, ensuring that operations can continue smoothly without manual intervention.
The electrical control cabinet utilizes components from Siemens, ABB, and Schneider, providing stable performance and reliability in the demanding marine environment. The machine also carries CE and EURO-STANDARD certification, reflecting compliance with recognized safety and quality benchmarks.
Integration with Waste Management Systems
The SR30 is not designed to function in isolation but rather as a strategic component within a broader waste handling chain. It can be used prior to a compactor to increase the compaction ratio, or in combination with a shipboard incinerator to prepare waste for thermal treatment. By reducing particle size, the SR30 enhances the efficiency of downstream equipment and maximizes the utility of available storage space.