BIO-UV Group has strengthened its global partnership network following an agreement with Hai Cheung Trading, a specialist marine equipment supplier based in Hong Kong
The strategic alliance between France-based BIO-UV Group and Hai Cheung Trading (HCT) of Hong Kong aims to reinforce the commercial rollout of the company’s BIO-SEA ballast water treatment system across Asia.
Under the new agreement, BIO-UV Group will be able draw on HCT’s extensive network of Chinese shipyards to accelerate the take-up of BIO-SEA systems across the region, strengthening the company’s presence in Asia.
BIO-UV Group chief executive and founder Benoit Gillmann said “We are delighted to have entered into this highly strategic partnership with HTC. By teaming up with a benchmark supplier in China’s shipbuilding market, we benefit from its unique expertise and vast capacity in the region which will help us to rapidly roll out our business strategy and durably establish BIO-UV Group in a fast-growing market.”
HCT will support Chinese shipyards with the supply, installation and commissioning of the BIO-SEA system.
Hai Cheung Trading president Randolph Zhang said “We are delighted to have formed this relationship with BIO-UV Group. By combining the knowledge of our two organisations we will provide a robust and bespoke service to all our customers in the area.”
BIO-SEA business director Xavier Deval said “This partnership comes at a time when the market is very favourable towards UV-based BWMS. The alliance we have formed with HCT aims to raise the competitiveness of our technology in the market.”
Mr Deval commented that BIO-SEA’s IMO and USCG certification is a significant attraction for Asian shipowners looking to comply with the requirements. “This, combined with BIO-UV’s high-performance systems and HCT’s enhanced knowledge of China’s maritime ecosystem, will ensure we are in pole position to quickly and effectively meet Asian shipowners and shipyards’ requirements.”
In addition to business leverage, BIO-UV Group will transfer the assembly and production BIO-SEA parts to HCT’s Nanjing site.
“Production flexibility and responsiveness are key competitive advantages in a strong growth market,” said Mr Deval. “There is conflict in the BWMS market between price and system availability, but we have managed to remain competitive and we can provide systems within a six-week lead time. There are units available on the shelves that can be delivered in three weeks.”
Mr Deval said new emissions legislation has had an impact on drydock availability, given the number of slots booked for exhaust gas cleaning system installations.
“There is definitely a bottleneck,” he said. “Shipowners are struggling to find slots for BWMS installations and are now combining their scrubber projects with ballast water treatment system retrofits. Shipowners can no longer afford to run down the ballast water compliance clock.”
Ballast water treatment does not stop with compliance. The Ballast Water Treatment Beyond Compliance webinar is now available to view.
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