OceanSaver secures world first BWS contract for large vessels

Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) has ordered OceanSaver BWMSs for three VLCCs on order for Oman Shipping Company (OSC). The contract is the first of its kind and signifies a breakthrough for IMO’s Ballast Water Management convention as well as for OceanSaver.

The contract calls for the supply of OS BWMS 6000 EX onboard the three 317,000 dwt tankers which are able to treat 6,000 m³ ballast water per hour.

According to Stein Foss, managing director of OceanSaver, the contract is a significant breakthrough for the company, marking its transition into becoming a major supplier to the maritime industry. “The global market for BWM systems is new and represents a massive opportunity. It is driven by regulations and is predictable, but all technologies need to go through a thorough, time-consuming and costly approval process”, he says.

“We have crossed a crucial frontier in terms of technological development, and are now focussing on successful commercialisation and production. We have established a strong global network of highly capable agents and secured production capacity to accommodate significant orders this year and in years to come,” says Foss.

Fit-for-purpose ballast water management systems have been the company’s sole focus since 2002. Following its successful pilot-project on car carrier Höegh Trooper in 2005, OceanSaver obtained Type Approval in April 2009.

“We estimate the overall BWM market to be about $30 billion from 2010 to 2020. We expect to take a significant market share particularly within the tanker, LNG and chemical sector but also larger tonnage in general” says Foss.