Before the end of 2017, nine anchor handling tug supply (AHTS) vessels will be delivered to quality management company ESNAAD, a subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc). These vessels will incorporate ballast water treatment (BWT) specialist Optimarin’s Optimarin Ballast System (OBS), as the company announced in February.

Optimarin’s contract win is a result of a recent ten unit order from fleet operators Atlantis Tankers and the firm’s first venture into the fishing sector, with American fishing company Fisherman’s Finest’s America’s Finest ecotrawler.

AHTS Vessels

The nine AHTS vessels, designed by ship-building group Sinopacific’s Shanghai design associates specialist, will be operated by ESNAAD. With a bollard pull of 80 t, the SPA80A designs – an AHTS with electric propulsion system – are tailored to meet the unique demands of offshore work in the Arabian Gulf.

The vessel’s basic design has been tailored to Adnoc’s specific requirements and has been designed according to the standards in similar types of vessels, ensuring the delivery of reliable performances under the complex conditions of shallow water, high salinity, high temperatures and high humidity in the Persian Gulf.

“These vessels are of high quality and designed to excel in the region’s shallow waters, high temperatures, salinities and humidity. This will ensure optimal quality, reliable operations, and Sinopacific wanted a BWT system to match,” says Optimarin CEO Tore Andersen.

He notes that the reliability and ease of maintenance of Optimarin technology is now well established in the market. The fact that the systems are modular, and therefore easy to install on vessels where space is at a premium, such as an AHTS, provides another compelling selling point. “Sinopacific is a leading player in this sector and we’re obviously delighted that they recognise the same qualities in Optimarin,” he adds.

The OBS System

The OBS, to be used inside the AHTS vessels, is based on filtration as pretreatment and high doses of ultraviolet (UV) irradiation for inactivation of marine organisms, viruses and bacteria, without affecting the normal operation of the ship.

Ballast water is UV treated both during ballasting and deballasting to ensure the dual UV effect. Ballast water is only filtered during ballasting.

The OBS is one of very few treatment options that does not use or generate chemicals or bio-cides in its treatment or cleaning processes. It is based on the idea that such systems should be environmentally sound, simple, flexible and easy to install, and capable of operating on both new builds and existing vessels.

The OBS is certified to operate in all salinities (freshwater, brackish and seawater).

Optimarin notes the OBS is easy to install on board existing ships (retrofit) as well as on new builds. The modulised system is flexible, with a relatively small footprint and weight, and will fit vessels of all kinds and sizes. The OBS can be delivered as a complete skid or as a customised solution. It accommodates a range of ballast water capacities and can handle flows up to 3.0 m³/h or higher upon request.

Andersen explains that the recent wave of orders demonstrate that Optimarin is well positioned for the surge in business expected upon the ratification of the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO’s) Ballast Water Management convention.

The company states that it can now point to more than 270 installed systems, out of a total of over 370 confirmed orders, illustrating both the expertise of its people and the proven success of its environment-friendly UV technology.

“With the upcoming full United States Coast Guard (USCG) approval of our system – expected in the second quarter of this year – and our vast experience of both new build and retrofit installations, we think we’re perfectly placed to offer shipowners and yards the best in BWT. “That means complete system performance, compliance and peace of mind for the future,” says Andersen.

Optimarin has a history of success within the offshore sector, supplying OBS for names of the stature of logistics company Gulf Offshore, project management company Technip, international operator of offshore supply vessels, Deep Sea Supply, international offshore and subsea shipping company Siem Offshore and diversified offshore fleet Island Offshore, among others. In addition to its upcoming USCG approval, OBS is fully approved by IMO and certified through international certification body DNV GL, maritime classification society

Lloyd’s Register, testing, inspection and certi- fication services company Bureau Veritas, Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and classification society American Bureau of Shipping.