Royal Caribbean International (RCI) has selected Optimarin to provide its USCG compliant Optimarin Ballast System (OBS) for three vessels.
The Norwegian-based ballast water treatment (BWT) specialist has now retrofitted BWTS on ‘Independence of the Seas’ and ‘Mariner of the Seas’, with installation on ‘Grandeur of the Seas’ set for the first quarter of this year.
“An agreement of this nature with a world renowned operator is very special,” said Optimarin CEO, Tore Andersen. “Royal Caribbean leads the cruise market in terms of passenger experience, vessels, service standards, and environmental performance, and these three ships are some of the ‘stars’ of their growing global fleet.
“The fact Optimarin has been selected provides not only an endorsement of our simple, reliable and market proven UV-based technology, but also demonstrates that world leaders turn to us when it comes to ensuring total global compliance. We have always been a regulatory frontrunner, since our very foundation in 1994, and were the first manufacturer to achieve full USCG approval in December, 2016.
“That means we don’t simply provide systems, we provide peace of mind. For a ‘heavyweight’ cruise champion like Royal Caribbean that is priceless – allowing optimal fleet flexibility, no matter where their business takes them,” he said.
Optimarin’s systems are modular in construction, allowing them to be retrofitted in almost any vessel, regardless of space restrictions – a crucial factor for these type of ships.
“We focus on exceeding expectations and optimising performance, that applies as much for industry and regulatory standards as it does for passenger experience,” added Jorge Coronado, RCI’s Superintendent, Technical Systems, Global Marine Operations. “With a fleet that sails throughout the world – from the Caribbean to Alaska, South America to Australia – it is imperative that we have the best systems to ensure complete compliance. Optimarin delivers this, allowing us to focus on delivering holidays of a lifetime.”
Optimarin claims a unique track record in the cruise segment. The BWTS specialist installed the world’s first commercial treatment system on board the ‘Regal Princess’ in 2000. Since then it has gone on to win contracts from customers, such as Hapag-Lloyd.
“Our flexible systems are the chosen technology for a range of sectors, from offshore to naval vessels,” Andersen concluded, “but there’s always a sense of ‘coming home’ with cruise, as it really marked the start of our journey. It’s hugely gratifying to see how far we’ve come over the years and, with our long-term dedication to an exclusive focus on BWT, how we can continue developing in the future.”
Optimarin has now sold around 700 OBS units, with more than 500 installed and operational, of which about 250 are retrofits.
Alongside full IMO and USCG compliance, OBS has certification from a comprehensive range of class societies, including ABS, BV, DNV GL, LR & MLIT Japan. .
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