Press Release

For more information, please contact:

Ecochlor, Inc.
Tom Perlich
President
(205) 980-1131
tpp@ecochlor.com

Ecochlor, Inc. Receives Patent for its Innovative Ecochlor™ Chlorine Dioxide Ballast Water Treatment System for Ships

ACTON, MASS – (August 17, 2004) – Ecochlor, Inc. announced today that the company has been issued U.S. Patent 6,773,611 for its Ecochlor™ Ballast Water Treatment System, developed over the last three years to neutralize unwanted organisms in the ballast water of ships. The patent covers the use of chlorine dioxide as a biocide for the treatment of ballast water, and discloses the design of a treatment system that automatically controls the concentration of the chlorine dioxide in the ballast tanks.

According to Ecochlor President Tom Perlich, “We are pleased that this key patent has issued, and we look forward to the issuance of our other patents pending in the U.S. and around the world.” Ecochlor’s systems have been specifically designed to safely and economically eliminate the worldwide transfer of aquatic invasive species. These foreign invaders pose severe environmental, economic and public health issues and are now a major international concern. For over a hundred years, oceangoing vessels have been designed to carry ballast water to facilitate stability and safe maneuverability. Since the 1970’s, however, with the advent of larger, faster ships and the globalization of trade, the amount of ballast water being used and discharged around the world has increased dramatically.”

International standards requiring the treatment of ballast water are currently being adopted, and in the U.S. a number of states have passed, or are in the process of passing, laws mandating the treatment of ballast water.

About Ecochlor

Ecochlor (www.ecochlor.com), founded in 2001, has developed a proprietary ballast water treatment system to provide a global solution to the transfer of aquatic invasive species. Ecochlor's system, the Ecochlor™ Ballast Water Treatment System, has been patented in the U.S., and other patents are pending in the U.S. and internationally. Ecochlor™ Systems are cost effective, environmentally acceptable and comply with all enacted and proposed standards and regulations. Ecochlor's in-house experts and team of strategic partners not only supply complete design and fabrication of the Ecochlor™ Systems, but also marine engineering, naval architecture, chemical treatment expertise, shipboard installation and ongoing technical and regulatory certification support.

Ecochlor is based in the USA with capabilities to install, service and support systems throughout the world.