Mark Ii System News

In the Middle East there has been a level of shipbuilding infrastructure investment unmatched, with companies such as N-KOM in Qatar among the leaders. N-KOM CEO Abu Bakar Mohd Nor shares his insights on growth & opportunity in the Middle East. When you look at the expanse of your operations, what do you count as the primary strength of your company? One of the most important strengths N-KOM has apart from its strong parentage is being strategically located in Qatar, the world’s leading exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and at the heart of the Arabian Gulf…

The Norwegian firm OceanSaver, a provider of ballast water treatment (BWT) systems for medium and large vessels, has just marked its 10th birthday with the news that 2013 will be its best ever year for sales. CEO Houtan Houshangi has revealed that the company has secured over 50 orders for its modular Mark II system in 2013, spanning a diverse array of shipping segments. This pushes the number of systems on OceanSaver’s order book above the 100 threshold, with 30 units already installed. OceanSaver’s system, which was recently awarded U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) AMS approval, has found favor with owners and operators in key segments such as gas carriers, bulk vessels and VLCCs, to name a few. Recent contracts include system orders for LNG and LPG carriers.

OceanSaver has achieved a certification double, with the news that its Mark II Ballast Water Treatment (BWT) system has achieved U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) approval, while the company itself has achieved ISO 9001:2008 certification. Based in Drammen, Norway, OceanSaver provides efficient and reliable BWT systems for medium and large vessels, such as VLCCs, LNG Carriers and a variety of tankers and bulk carriers, amongst others. The USCG’s  Alternate Management System (AMS) approval means that vessels fitted with OceanSaver systems - combining effective and reliable filtration with high-performance electrodialytic disinfectant treatment – are free to discharge ballast water in U.S. ports. Newbuilds constructed after December 2013 must have USCG compliant systems to perform this task.

OceanSaver ballast water treatment (BWT) systems for two Suezmax lightering tankers to be delivered by a major Korean shipyard in mid-2014 for Chevron Shipping Company. “Competitive pricing, low operating costs, and a compatible technical system were key contract parameters; total cost of ownership (TCO) savings were a decisive factor in winning the contract,” said Tor Atle Eiken, Senior Vice President Sales & Marketing, OceanSaver. “TCO was center stage. OceanSaver’s BWT system is a comprehensive cost model for the industry and when completing hundreds of lightering operations each year, TCO is a significant factor. We believe that OceanSaver balances purchase price and long term costs in a very efficient manner,” Eiken said.

OceanSaver’s ballast water treatment (BWT) system has been chosen for two 162,000cbm LNG carriers being built by BW Gas. OceanSaver was selected due to its competitive pricing, low operating costs, and compatible technical system. BW Gas is one of the largest independent owners and operators of LNG carriers and the largest owner and operator of LPG carriers. These sophisticated and highly regulated vessels require competent crews and high quality operations. They also require consistent standards of maintenance which BW Gas maintains regardless of short-term changes in the freight market. With these standards in mind, BW Gas conducted a thorough evaluation of the OceanSaver ballast water system (BWT) before confirmation.

OceanSaver has entered the Japanese market with a major ballast water treatment contract for four open hatch bulk carriers being built by Japan’s Oshima Shipbuilding Ltd for Gearbulk. The 72,000dwt Open Hatch Bulk Carriers are being built to DNV class and each vessel will be fitted with a 1,200m3/h type approved Mark II OceanSaver system. The first two systems will be commissioned in 2012 and will incorporate OceanSaver’s second generation design, engineered for reliability, low maintenance requirements and low power consumption.

Oceansaver achieved a milestone for the ballast water treatment industry with the commissioning of the first treatment system to include filters on a crude oil tanker in Korea. The 159.000 DWT Suezmax tanker, Ottoman Integrity, is being delivered from a Korean shipyard for Turkish owner Gungen Maritime & Trading, and the installed OceanSaver system is capable of treating ballast water at a rate of 2 x 2.500m3/h. OceanSaver’s Mark I technology has been installed, which includes filtration, cavitation, disinfection and nitrogen super saturation. The filter and cavitation units are installed in the vessel’s pump room with the disinfection unit and nitrogen system in the engine room and casing area, respectively.

Ciner Shipping Industry & Trading, a subsidiary within Ciner Group, one of Turkey’s growing commerce, industry and service conglomerates, has secured OceanSaver MARK II systems for two suezmax tankers at China’s Bohai Shipbuilding Heavy Industry and four bulk carriers at SPP Shipyard in Korea. Twelve weeks ago OceanSaver informed the market about the launch of its next generation BWT Mark II system and goals to introduce better performing filtration technology, reduce installation cost and complexity for retrofit and newbuilding projects. “The industry has responded very favourably to MARK II and OceanSaver’s high-end technology for critical ballast water treatment applications.