Superyacht orders rise as designers move toward integrated ballast water treatment solutions
by BIO-UV Group 27 Mar 10:18 GMT
Market growth for yachts above 60m underpins increased demand for BIO-UV's mini ballast water treatment systems © Shutterstock
Bio-Uv Group says its super- and mega-yacht newbuild deliveries are expected to double this year as steady market growth for vessels above 60m underpins increased demand for integrated ballast water treatment systems.
The France-based water treatment specialist currently has between five and ten yacht installations scheduled for delivery this year, about twice the number completed in the previous year. The increase is underpinned by new agreements with a major yacht builders in Northern and Southern Europe.
"Industry projections indicate continued expansion of the global fleet toward 2030," says Maxime Dedeurwaerder, BIO-UV Group's BIO-SEA Business Development Director. "As yachts increase in size and complexity, onboard ballast water treatment systems are becoming central to the design specification and systems integration process."
In previous years, he suggests, some designers looked at ways to avoid installing ballast water treatment systems but as vessel sizes increase, builders now look for projects where treatment systems are integrated into the design from the outset, rather than retrofitting later.
"Historically, certain projects were configured to minimise ballast discharge requirements through hull optimisation and tank arrangement strategies, particularly where cruising profiles were predictable. While technically feasible in some cases, operational experience has altered attitudes.
"With experience and competitive pricing, it is less beneficial to design a yacht in a way to avoid installing a ballast water system. There are still differing views in the design community, but integration is increasingly seen as the practical solution," he says.
BIO-UV attributes its rising order book primarily to reputation and positioning rather than short-term regulatory pressure.
"We entered three new yards in the past year while maintaining our existing customers," Dedeurwaerder says. "This reflects the confidence the industry has in our ballast water treatment systems and the after sales support we provide."
Demand has centred on the BIO-SEA L01-0030 Mini, a compact filtration and UV-based ballast water treatment system designed for low-flow rates between 13m³/h and 30m³/h. Considered the smallest UV BWTS in the marketplace, the Mini has a reduced footprint to address the space constraints commonly encountered in super/mega-yacht machinery rooms.
With a wide list of options such as white gloss finish, CuNiFe pipework, high-quality components, filter choices, and drip tray, the L01-0030 Mini is a chemical-free system, contains no active substances or by-products, and can be delivered as a covered skid allowing for installation in areas outside the machinery room, such as the hangar, garage, or indeed, an open space. A loose component modular version is also available.
While the broader commercial ballast treatment market has plateaued following retrofit cycles, BIO-UV views the superyacht segment as structurally resilient.
"Yes, the large yacht market remains a specialised sector," Dedeurwaerder says. "But it is one where we see continued expansive development."
With fleet forecasts indicating sustained growth in the upper size brackets, BIO-UV Group expects the segment to remain a steady contributor to its newbuild and retrofit portfolio in the years ahead.