March 15 - Optimarin has signed an agreement with UK based shipowner Carisbrooke for the implementation of its Optimarin Ballast System (OBS) across the company's fleet of 46 multipurpose and bulk vessels.
Carisbrooke is now assessing its fleet with the prospect of commencing installations in 2017. The contracted ships range in size from 5,000 to 20,000 dwt.
Optimarin ceo Tore Andersen said that the Carisbooke contract is a "huge development" for the company.
"We've been 100 percent focused on ballast water treatment since our formation in 1994 and, with the ratification of the IMO's Ballast Water Convention now imminent, forward-thinking shipowners who appreciate this unparalleled expertise are signing up for fleet agreements."
Optimarin's scheduled US Coast Guard (USCG) approval also played a decisive part in securing the deal, said Andersen, with a number of Carisbrooke vessels trading in US waters. This certification, in conjunction with the IMO ratification, is proving to be an important factor in accelerating OBS sales, suggested the company.
Martin Henry, fleet technical director at Carisbrooke, commented on the decision to work with Optimarin: "There were multiple factors at play. USCG compliance is critical for our trading routes, as is the operational and supply chain reliability of the technology itself."
Carisbrooke vessels operate globally, trading in a range of cargoes, including special project loads such as wind turbine components and construction materials.
