The contract scope covers delivery by Optimarin of BWTSs for each of the four Anti-Submarine Warfare Frigates to be built at the naval shipbuilding division of Netherlands-based Damen Shipyards Group, for which it has previously delivered several systems, both for naval retrofits and commercial newbuilds.
“This award reinforces our established reputation as a reliable supplier of high-quality BWTSs to naval vessels and represents a further strong endorsement of our product from a long-established and important customer,” says Optimarin CEO Tore Svanheld.
Naval Track Record
Optimarin now has more than 40 systems delivered or on order for naval vessels with the latest contract, which marks the Norwegian supplier’s first naval newbuild order with Damen. These cover Nato navies around the world including the UK, US, Germany and Spain as fleet investments are ramping up.
In a wider perspective, Optimarin has sold nearly 2000 systems to the shipping industry worldwide as it marks its 30th anniversary this year, with its BWTS type-approved by both the IMO and US Coast Guard for regulatory compliance.
The so-called Optimarin Ballast System is based on a simple and reliable design with few movable parts and a self-cleaning UV chamber combined with automatic back-flushing filters, thus requiring minimal maintenance and ensuring operational reliability.
This is underpinned by advanced technology that ensures efficient handling of ballast water during the filtering process and UV treatment to minimize environmental pollution. Earlier shock testing of the system has also proven its robustness for military use.
Compact System
Furthermore, the system is backed by a comprehensive global support network with service technicians available wherever a ship is located to avoid vessel downtime, especially important for naval vessels engaged in mission-critical operations.
A key factor for newbuild deliveries—particularly on warships where deck space can be limited—is the compactness of Optimarin’s flexible modular system that has been streamlined through continuous product development to give a smaller footprint.
The system, which comes with a full documentation package, is also available skid-mounted for ease of installation, and there are typically minimal commissioning issues.
