Royal Caribbean looks to Optimarin for global compliance
Member news | 20 December 2018
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Royal Caribbean International, one of
the world’s leading cruise ship operators, has chosen Optimarin to provide its
USCG compliant Optimarin Ballast System (OBS) for three flagship vessels. The
Norwegian-based ballast water treatment (BWT) specialist has now retrofitted
its market proven technology on Independence of the Seas and Mariner of the
Seas, with installation on Grandeur of the Seas set for Q1 2019.
“An agreement of this nature with a world
renowned operator is very special,” comments 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.”
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 feature packed ships.
Grandeur of the Seas, Independence of
the Seas, and Mariner of the Seas are key members of Royal Caribbean’s
25-strong fleet. Together with the operator’s other innovative ships they offer
state-of-the-art entertainment and
industry-acclaimed programming that appeals to both families and adventurous
vacationers. Royal Caribbean has been voted ‘Best Cruise Line Overall’ for 15
consecutive years in the Travel Weekly Readers’ Choice Awards.
“We focus on exceeding expectations and
optimizing performance, that applies as much for industry and regulatory
standards as it does for passenger experience,” comments Jorge E. Coronado, Superintendent, Technical Systems, Global Marine
Operations, Royal Caribbean. “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 has a unique
track record in the cruise segment. The BWT specialist installed the world’s
very first commercial treatment onboard 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 concludes, “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
approximately 700 OBS units, with more than 500 installed and operational, of
which approximately 250 are retrofits.
Alongside full IMO and USCG compliance,
OBS has certification from a comprehensive range of classification
organizations, including ABS, BV, DNV-GL, LR & MLIT Japan. Current
customers include Fednav, GulfMark, Hapag Lloyd, Matson Navigation, McDermott,
MOL, Ardmore, Seatruck, Technip, and the Royal Netherlands Navy, amongst
others.
