OceanSaver Signs Ballast Water Management Contract

Major contract gives OceanSaver the lion’s share of the large vessel, ballast water management systems segment

OceanSaver announced signing a major ballast water management (BWM) system contract for six Very Large Crude oil Carriers (VLCCs) to be built in China. Furthermore, OceanSaver has signed Letter of Intent for five VLCC’s with another major Asian shipbuilder thus lifting its order book to some 40 mill USD and making it the leading BWM system supplier to the large ship segment.

“We are confident that the market now has accepted the OceanSaver technology as we are taking the lion’s share of the large vessel segment, which mainly is tankers and gas carriers as well as large bulk carriers. Shipowners are acting on IMO’s International Convention for the Control and Management of Ship’s Ballast Water and Sediments which takes effect from 2012 for new vessels and we are witnessing an increased demand for our BWM system technology,” said Stein Foss, CEO, OceanSaver.

OceanSaver’s breakthrough came earlier this year when it won BWM system contracts with one of the leading Asian yards for three VLCCs, which together with current and other projects in the pipeline could bring their total order book up to USD 80 million or more within this year.

“Our first commercial contract was the first of its kind within the large ship segment and signified a major breakthrough for IMO’s Ballast Water Management convention, as well as for OceanSaver. However, our recent and potential orders position us as the market’s foremost provider of BWM systems. We estimate the overall BWM market to be about USD 35 billion from 2010 to 2020,” said Tor Eiken, Sales Director, OceanSaver.

OceanSaver’s latest contract includes six VLCCs at the Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Company. The Ship owner is based in Hong Kong.

The contract is for the supply of OS BWMS 6000 EX – which are to be installed within the existing pump room size on all the contracted vessels. Ballast pumps will be steam driven with increased delivery head as the only major design change caused by installing a BWM system.

BWMS 6000 EX treats 6000 m3 ballast water per hour, can be installed in gas hazardous areas and is proven to quickly handle ballasting and de-ballasting operations.

OceanSaver’s BWM system applies a hybrid treatment approach comprised of a combination of filtration, cavitation, supersaturation (oxygen removal) and disinfection. It does not contain or use any substance that poses a risk to the marine environment, but offers simple and effective operations and control and has demonstrated compliance to the newly adopted performance standards for ballast tank coating schemes.

“OceanSaver is a robust and suitable ballast water management system for shipboard environments and offers a unique flexibility related to installation. The corrosion benefits looks very promising compared with competing technologies and the system is an optimal solution for marine applications” said Thor Jørgen Guttormsen, President, Leif Höegh & Co.

In terms of technological development, the OceanSaver BWM system meets one of the strictest and most complex compliance procedures of the International Maritime Organization and other approval authorities. In addition, it has the potential to meet the California Performance Standards, governing ballast water management requirements for vessels over 300 gross registered tons.

Following speedy BWM system rollout for all the contracted deliveries, OceanSaver sees very good prospects for the further extension of its global activities.

“We have clearly defined goals which include being the leading BWM system supplier within our selected tonnage. The large vessel market represents 20% of the total number of ships worldwide, but approximately 40% of the total value of the BWM market. With a market potential of some USD 12 billion in our segments alone, it is expected that this will secure rapid and sustainable growth over the next years,” says Foss.

With type approval certificates in their pocket and a stream of orders rolling in, OceanSaver is now focusing on successful commercialization, manufacturing and logistics in order to meet the demand and to assure quality in its deliveries to clients worldwide.

“We have established a strong global network of highly capable sales- and service agents and secured production capacity to accommodate significant orders this year and in years to come,” concludes Foss.

“We are very pleased with the commercial breakthrough of OceanSaver. The company brings a truly unique and innovative offering ready for a fast growing international market.” says Arne Frøiland, Partner and Founder of Energy Capital Management.