Optimarin has this week reported that it is on the brink of becoming the first supplier of an Ultra Violet radiation-based ballast water treatment system (BWTS) to be awarded with Type Approval from the United States Coast Guard (USCG).
Optimarin’sOBS BWTS utilises a combination of filtration technology and powerful 35kW UV lamps to treat ballast water.
The Norwegian firm satisfied the USCG’s stringent testing criteria for fresh, brackish and marine water using the preferred ‘CMFDA’ method at full treatment rated capacity. Testing was conducted by DNV GL at the NIVA test facility in Norway.
DNV GL submitted all final documentation for the OBS BWTS to the USCG’s Marine Safety Center (MSC) on September 20, 2016. Full approval is expected in Q4 2016, although it may only take as little as 30 days from receipt of application.
Optimarin CEO Tore Andersen has stated that 2016 has been the company’s best year in business, with in a recent press release stating that 2016 sales are up by close to 200%.
He said: “On the back of our success with USCG testing we’ve seen orders steadily build, with contracts signed for over 100 of our Optimarin Ballast Systems (OBS) so far [in 2016].”
Optimarin say they have received orders for around 500 of their systems. Of these units 280 have been installed worldwide, with close to 100 retrofits, fitted in tandem with global engineering partners Goltens and Zeppelin.
Recent orders include ten units for Atlantis Tankers, 15 systems for Vard Group, three for Saga Shipholding (adding to an additional 26 systems already installed on its fleet), two for Solvang ASA, and a frame agreement with Carisbrooke with the potential to encompass retrofits on 46 bulk and multipurpose vessels.
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