OceanSaver Offers a Lower Cost of Its BWT System (Norway)

OceanSaver is ripping up the rulebook of the ballast water treatment (BWT) industry to give shipyards and shipowners something that is truly unique for the sector – total certainty in an increasingly uncertain world.

For just 10% of the cost of its market-leading BWT system, OceanSaver has announced that it will configure new ships for the easy installation of a unit at a later date, fitting base components to allow its type-approved system to be simply ‘plugged in’ when required.

This is a first for the industry.

Tor Atle Eiken, Senior Vice President Sales & Marketing of OceanSaver; believes the offer is genuinely compelling when set against the current confusion that has seemingly engulfed the entire BWT issue.

“IMO’s BWT mandates are looming large on the horizon,” he explains, “with all tonnage required to comply with the legislation and fit systems by 2016. However, several key territories are yet to ratify these IMO treaties, creating uncertainty – not to mention the potential for major system installation bottlenecks – right across the industry.

“As a result, many shipowners are simply delaying planning for compliance… a dangerous game to play when the future operation of their vessels is at stake.”

OceanSaver’s 10% deal – which sees essential piping and power supply installed, alongside other key base parts such as system bed plates and connections – gives owners and operators peace of mind, without the need for substantial financial outlay in an increasingly cost conscious sector.

Once configured, ships are essentially future-proofed. If the conventions are ratified, as expected, systems can be fitted quickly, minimising the downtime of ships that can command day rates of tens of thousands dollars. The huge demand for BWT systems, upon ratification, will also push up dry docking prices exponentially, meaning lengthy retrofitting operations will cost a premium. OceanSaver’s ‘plug in’ preparations will ensure ships leave the yards in record time, keeping installation costs to an absolute minimum.

“It’s a win-win situation,” Eiken adds. “It gives shipowners a kind of insurance policy, whereby they are prepared for any outcome. If the mandates are ratified the system can be quickly fitted, but if not then the shipowner has only paid a fraction of the price of complete installation. The sense of security that provides is something simply unheard of in the BWT arena.”

Proof of the compelling nature of the 10% proposition has been immediately provided by Foremost Group, which has charged OceanSaver with configuring two bulk carriers for future system installation. Preparation work is due to take place on the vessels 2013 and main installation during first dry docking or according to IMO rules and regulations.

Eiken is delighted at Foremost Group’s acceptance of the offer: “It demonstrates that we were right to break with tradition in the sector and give people something completely new”. “But in order to make this happen a close and open cooperation between OceanSaver and Foremost Group was needed,” Eiken adds. Foremost Group is a respected and well-known shipping company in the industry and it’s great to see a company of their pedigree signing up to accept our revolutionary installation concept.

“We believe they will be the first of many to see real value in what we’re trying to do here.”

[mappress]
Ocean Saver, February 11, 2013