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Cruisers · Marine · Shipbuilding

Enclosed space.
H₂S and NH₃
Crew safety.

Ships and cruise vessels are closed systems. Hydrogen sulphide (H₂S) from the drains can be deadly in the cabin or engine room. P-traps dry out due to tilt, vibration, and forgotten cabins. Green Drain™ is a mechanical one-way barrier that backpressure from the sewer does not open.

NSF/ANSI 2EN 1253−40 °C / +100 °CSalt resistant
>99.9 %
H₂S and odours
Quiet
No vibration
5 years
Life
0
Maintenance
Problem & solution

A ship's drainage has problems of its own.

The vessel pitches, rolls, and vibrates. The P-trap isn't static. A P-trap in the cabin can empty due to water movement. Plus the enclosed space — H₂S that on land would escape through a window here accumulates in the cabins.

Without Green Drain™

  • The P-trap dries out from water displacement caused by waves and machinery vibrations.
  • H₂S from blackwater — lethal above 100 ppm, human odour detection threshold 0.5 ppm
  • Cruise ship cabins — seasonal, empty for weeks — P-traps dried out
  • Engine room — central discharges under CO₂ and H₂S loading
  • MARPOL Annex IV prescribes the management of blackwater — the drainage system is part of safety.

With Green Drain™

  • Mechanical one-way seal — sewer pressure does not open it.
  • Vibration and heel empty nothing — there is no water left to lose.
  • Resistant to saline atmospheres and marine cleaning agents
  • Quiet in operation — a guest in a cruise cabin won't hear the P-trap from the neighbouring cabin.
  • Safety: H₂S and methane remain in the sewer system.
Irish marine & ports sector

Ireland — the Atlantic gateway for marine operations.

Irish ports (Dublin, Cork, Rosslare, Shannon Foynes), marina networks operated by the Irish Marine Federation, Marine Institute-certified vessels, cruise calls to Dublin, Cork and Belfast, plus the Irish Naval Service fleet — all share the same constraint: closed sanitary systems where one dry P-trap can release H₂S into accommodation spaces. MARPOL Annex IV governs blackwater, which is directly linked to onboard drainage.

Irish Marine
Marina network coordinated by Irish Sailing & Marine Federation (irishsailing.org)
MARPOL IV
Annex IV — Management of Blackwater on Ships
100 ppm
H₂S lethal level (reference: OSHA / NIOSH)
Classification
Bureau Veritas, Lloyd's Register, DNV — technical compliance
EN 1253
Compliance with the European standard for P-traps
0
Chemicals in P-traps — fewer hazardous substances on board
Data Sources and Regulatory Framework (2024–2025 data)

Statistical data taken from official Irish and EU sources: Central Statistics Office Ireland (cso.ie), Health Service Executive (hse.ie), Fáilte Ireland (failteireland.ie), Bord Bia (bordbia.ie), IDA Ireland (idaireland.com), Health Products Regulatory Authority (hpra.ie). Regulatory framework: EUR-Lex for EU directives — EU 2017/745 (MDR), EU 178/2002 (food safety), EU 1935/2004 and EU 10/2011 (food contact materials), EU 528/2012 (BPR), EU 2014/34 (ATEX). Standards: EN 1253-1 (floor P-traps, water seal ≥50 mm), EN 1253 Parts 6/7/8 (gullies with a water seal below 50 mm, with mechanical closure, and combined types; 2023 editions), HACCP International RG-04, ASSE 1072-2020, NSF/ANSI 2, HSE SARI guidelines. Revision date: May 2026.

Implementation

Fitted in the shipyard or dry dock.

The ideal time is during a regular ship dry dock. Cabins, washrooms and engine rooms are all fitted during the planned dry dock.

01

Technical analysis

Review of vessel documentation and drainage systems — compliance with the classification society.

02

Pilot cabins

10 cabins and one engine room — pilot during the voyage.

03

Dry dock

The entire vessel is undergoing a planned overhaul.

04

Certification

The classification society records it in the ship's documents.

Model Recommendation

Recommended sizes by shipboard zone.

The Irish maritime sector includes Dublin Port and the Port of Cork (regular international cruise calls), Irish Ferries and Stena Line (RoRo to UK and France), the Irish Sailing & Marine Federation marina network, plus the Irish Naval Service fleet. Cabin drains are typically DN50; crew sanitary and engine-room sumps are larger. Specific challenges: vibrations, saline atmosphere, MARPOL Annex IV.

Green Drain™ Recommended for your industry.

  • Cabin interiors of cruise ships, passenger ships, and RoRo ferriesGD 2. ISO/SOLAS construction standard.
  • Shipboard restaurants and cafésGD 3HoReCa standard on passenger ferries.
  • Ship's galley and engine roomGD 4Vibration defeats a water trap — this seal does not depend on water.
  • Cargo deck (RoRo, container)GD 5 or GD 6.
💬 Not sure of the exact size? Send us a photo of your sink drain — our technical team will respond with a written recommendation within the same business day, free of charge.
Check out Green Drain™ → Request a quote
GD 2
DN50 · cabins
GD 2.5
DN65 · crew sanitary facilities
GD 3
DN80 · ship's restaurants
GD 3.5
DN90 · large shower zones
GD 4
DN100 · galley, engine room
GD 5/6
DN125-150 · cargo deck
Questions

What we get asked most.

Will the classification society accept it?

Technical documentation and compliance with EN 1253 and NSF/ANSI 2 are submitted to the classification society during the audit. The specification is in line with the general approach for sanitary systems.

Is it resistant to machine room vibrations?

The seal operates mechanically — it's not like a P-trap that relies on water. Vibrations don't affect it. Tested in industrial environments with constant vibrations.

And the salty atmosphere?

The silicone material is resistant to a saline atmosphere and UV. The external plastic frame is as well. Expected service life: about five years in marine conditions.

Complete solution

Three products.
One protection portfolio.

Green Drain™ doesn't work alone — for maximum drain control it's combined with GD Uri-Tabs™ (urinals) and GreenSwirl™ (drain unblocking).

Ready for Free audit?

We come to the site, map the drains, and provide a written recommendation — no cost, no obligation.