By Abbas Nazil
Optimarin has launched its latest ballast water treatment system, the Optimarin Guardian, ahead of the highly anticipated Nor-Shipping 2025 exhibition.
The Guardian system, designed to meet the evolving demands of modern vessel operations, combines high treatment efficiency with reduced energy consumption and a lower total cost of ownership.
The new product is part of Optimarin’s strategic response to industry pressures, including geopolitical instability, rising operational costs, and tightening environmental regulations.
According to Tonje Olafsen, VP Sales & Projects at Optimarin, the Guardian system is a direct response to market demands for greater flexibility, reliability, and cost predictability. “Shipowners and shipyards are navigating a complex landscape,” Olafsen noted.
“With Guardian, we’re offering a robust, compliant, and cost-effective solution that also benefits from Optimarin’s established engineering expertise and service capabilities.”
While primarily engineered for large vessel applications, Guardian is also available in a compact 60 m³/h configuration.
This makes it a practical solution for smaller vessels such as fishing boats and yachts, effectively broadening Optimarin’s market reach and diversifying its customer base.
Guardian leverages the company’s well-established ballast water treatment technology, with key upgrades that enhance energy efficiency.
Initial results from pilot installations show promising improvements in both energy usage and system uptime, pointing to its operational reliability.
The launch of Guardian aligns with Optimarin’s broader strategy to navigate the global maritime sector’s supply chain disruptions.
The company has developed a flexible and regionally distributed parts sourcing model, allowing it to avoid many of the logistical bottlenecks currently affecting the industry.
This approach supports timely delivery and localized services in critical regions such as Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
Olafsen emphasized the importance of this move, stating, “We’ve quietly built in supply chain resilience over the past few years. Now, as our competitors face delays, we’re ensuring delivery reliability for our clients.”
In addition to the Guardian launch, Optimarin is expanding its service offerings, presenting tailored maintenance agreements that provide operators with greater control over long-term operational costs.
These agreements are gaining popularity among shipowners aiming for operational predictability amid stricter compliance mandates and financial constraints.
The product line expansion follows Optimarin’s recent acquisition of Hyde Marine’s UV ballast water treatment system technology.
This acquisition has bolstered Optimarin’s technological foundation, broadened its engineering capabilities, and enabled it to offer more customized solutions for various vessel types.
With Guardian, Optimarin solidifies its position as a forward-thinking player in ballast water treatment, committed to delivering sustainable, efficient, and adaptable solutions in a rapidly evolving maritime landscape.