(SANDNES, Norway) — Ballast water treatment system provider Optimarin says that a recent surge in new business orders and revenues is indicative of positive developments within the BWTS market. The Norwegian-headquartered firm, which has now sold close to 600 of its U.S. Coast Guard-approved Optimarin ballast systems (OBS), has exceeded its initial growth forecasts for the year to date, with both orders and income up by over 50 percent year-on-year.
Optimarin sold more than 60 OBS last year and has already signed contracts in 2018 to supply another 50. Recent agreements span a diverse array of shipping segments and owners, with orders from respected companies such as Besiktas Shipping, Eureka Shipping, Solvang, Koyo Kaiun and Ahrenkiel.
The firm has also seen gains in retrofits, with around 140 OBS now installed. Global engineering partners Goltens and Zeppelin account for the majority of these projects, but the simplicity of the technology also means that crews have been able to install systems while vessels are undertaking normal operations.
Current Optimarin customers include the Royal Netherlands Navy, Seatruck, Saga Shipholding, Technip, GulfMark, MOL, Solstad Farstad, and Hapag Lloyd. OBS is fully approved by both the International Maritime Organization and USCG, with certification through DNV GL, Lloyd’s, RINA, Bureau Veritas, MLIT Japan, and American Bureau of Shipping.
For more information, visit www.optimarin.com.