Norway - Optimarin has signed a new agreement with Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding (FBS) in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin for the delivery of two 500 m³/h capacity Optimarin Ballast Systems (OBS). The contract, identical to one secured last year, comes at a busy time for the Norwegian ballast water treatment (BWT) specialist, which has seen order enquiries go “through the roof” since securing USCG approval in December. The fresh agreement will see both systems installed on an 155,000-barrel capacity clean products barge, with delivery scheduled for August 2018. It is, according to Optimarin CEO Tore Andersen, an important sign of the trust his company’s clients have in both his business and its environmentally friendly UV technology. “Repeat orders are one of the best endorsements any supplier can have,” Andersen comments. “And when they come from a company of Fincantieri’s standing it really is a cause for celebration. They’re one of the premier specialized shipbuilders in the industry, with huge experience and a reputation to match. “They choose our technology because it is market proven, simple, easy to install and maintain, and compliant with the most rigorous regulations in the world. It gives them, and their customers, complete peace of mind for safe, predictable and environmentally responsible operations. In a sector that is still relatively young, the reassurance that our 20 plus years of expertise gives yards, owners and operators can’t be overstated.” Optimarin has been exclusively focused on developing BWT technology since its formation in 1994. Renowned as the company to install the first ever commercial system – on the Princess Regal in 2000 – it also became the first supplier to receive full USCG approval in December 2016. “This was a massive step forwards for the business,” Andersen explains. “We were already busy, but since that point enquiries have gone through the roof and our order pipeline is developing at a rate that has surprised even us. The industry knows that we are now leading the way in compliance, as well as expertise, and that, for any shipowner that wants the optimal flexibility for their global fleets, is of paramount importance. “With USCG’s tough standards and IMO’s ratification of the Ballast Water Management (BWM) convention, BWT is an issue that no shipping company can afford to ignore. We’re here to help them find the best, safest and most compliant way forward for their vessels. That’s our only focus, and I think the industry appreciates that level of dedication and proven experience.” Optimarin has now received orders for around 500 OBS systems, with more than 300 installed worldwide. Over 100 of these have been retrofits, delivered in conjunction with global engineering partners Goltens and Zeppelin Power Systems. Last year was the firm’s most successful ever, as, fuelled by its success with the USCG, it won contracts for over 120 BWT units. “We expect 2017 to be even better,” Andersen concludes. “The order pipeline is strong, our technology and compliance credentials are second to none, and the industry has a genuine need. We expect to have more orders to announce in the very near future.” Alongside approval from IMO and USCG, Optimarin’s technology is certified by a comprehensive range of classification organisations, including DNV GL, Lloyd’s, Bureau Veritas, MLIT Japan, and American Bureau of Shipping.