22 February 2016, Norway: Ballast water treatment (BWT) specialist Optimarin is continuing its strong start to the year, with the news that its Optimarin Ballast System (OBS) has been selected for nine Sinopacific Shipbuilding Group AHTS vessels. The contract win comes on the back of a recent ten unit order from Atlantis Tankers and the firm’s first foray into the fishing sector, with Fisherman’s Finest’s America’s Finest trawler.
The nine AHTS vessels, designed by Sinopacific’s Shanghai Design Associates specialist OSV team, will be operated by ESNAAD, a subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC). With a bollard pull of 80 tonnes, alongside an advanced electric propulsion system, the SPA80A designs are tailored to meet the unique demands of offshore work in the Arabian Gulf.
“These vessels are state of the art,” explains Tore Andersen, Optimarin CEO, “and designed to excel in the region’s shallow waters, high temperatures, salinities and humidity. This will ensure optimal quality, reliable operations, and Sinopacific wanted a BWT system to match.
“The reliability and ease of maintenance of our technology is now well-established in the market. The fact that the systems are modular, and therefore easy to install on vessels where space is at a premium, such as an AHTS, provides another compelling selling point. Sinopacific is a leading player in this sector and we’re obviously delighted that they recognise the same qualities in Optimarin.”
All nine vessels are now scheduled for delivery to ESNAAD before the end of 2017.
Andersen adds that the recent wave of orders demonstrate that Optimarin is well positioned for the surge in business expected upon the ratification of the IMO’s Ballast Water Management convention.
“We can now point to more than 270 installed systems, out of a total of over 370 confirmed orders, illustrating both the expertise of our people and the proven success of our environmentally friendly UV technology,” he states.
“With the upcoming full USCG approval of our system, expected in autumn this year, and our vast experience of both newbuild and retrofit installations, we think we’re perfectly placed to offer shipowners and yards the best in BWT. That means complete system performance, compliance and peace of mind for the future.”
Optimarin has a history of success within the offshore sector, supplying OBS for names of the stature of Gulf Offshore, Technip, Deep Sea Supply, Siem Offshore and Island Offshore, amongst others. In addition to its upcoming USCG approval, OBS is fully approved by IMO and certified through DNV GL, Lloyd’s, Bureau Veritas, MLIT Japan, and American Bureau of Shipping.
