Optimarin and Sandfirden Technics to consolidate foothold in Benelux
Optimarin is set to sign an agreement with Sandfirden Technics to consolidate its existing foothold in the key Benelux regional market, the company said in its release. Sandfirden, a respected Netherlands-based supplier of equipment and services to the maritime industry, will become the sole regional agent for the leading ballast water treatment (BWT) specialist. In doing so, Sandfirden Technics will use its extensive local contacts and expertise to build on a position that has already seen Optimarin win contracts with clients such as The Royal Netherlands Navy, De Poli Shipmanagement and Boskalis.
Optimarin is currently experiencing significant growth, with its latest Q3 figures showing a year-on-year increase of over 100% in both order intake and revenues. Following on from the September arrival of the IMO D2 deadline for BWT compliance, Tore Andersen, Optimarin EVP Sales and Marketing, says the market is now primed to go into “overdrive”, making it imperative that the firm has the right partners and support to both satisfy demand and provide optimal levels of customer service.
Sandfirden is headquartered in Den Oever, where the firm’s facilities encompass offices, an extensive parts warehouse, three production halls and modern test facilities. The firm can trace its roots in the maritime industry back to 1947. Managing Director Bart Bakker is set to officially sign the agency agreement with Andersen at Europort, the leading exhibition for special purpose vessels, taking place from 5th to 8th November in Rotterdam.
Alongside its Q3 results, Optimarin revealed that 2019 will be its best year ever for revenues and orders. The firm is approaching 1000 systems sold of its fully USCG and IMO compliant Optimarin Ballast System (OBS), with around 550 installed, of which approximately 200 are retrofits. Its most recent order was a fleet agreement with Singapore’s Asiatic Lloyd Shipmanagement LLP for 30 retrofitted systems.
Other current Optimarin customers include names such as Royal Caribbean International, Fednav, GulfMark, Hapag Lloyd, Matson Navigation, McDermott, the Danish Navy, MOL, Seatruck, and Technip, amongst others. OBS has certification from a comprehensive range of classification organizations, including ABS, BV, DNV-GL, LR & MLIT Japan.
