Let’s set sail and explore how ships can become more eco-friendly, Bawat-style.

Large ships usually take up ballast water from one destination and dump it at another. This water is essential because it helps keep the ship stable. However, this water often contains biological contaminants and sediment that could be harmful at the ship’s final destination.

This is where Bawat comes in to save the ecosystem. Marcus Peter Hummer created this company in 2011 to help clean the ballast water used by ships. Thanks to him, today the oceans are just that much cleaner.

Bawat has an ingenious new ballast water management (BWM) system that uses a low-energy, one-way pasteurization procedure. Since it uses no UV, no harmful chemicals, and no filter, it is also very eco-friendly and sustainable.

Stick with us to find out how this regular Joe went on a voyage to help the environment and save the oceans.

The Birth of a Captain

Marcus Peter Hummer was born and raised in Copenhagen, Denmark. Growing up, he was a curious and insightful little boy. He excelled in school and showed a talent for collaboration and being a team player - a rare but valuable combination for any entrepreneur.

Since he lived by the coast, Marcus spent much of his youth observing the small ships and giant vessels gracefully meandering on the sea. He was completely fascinated by them and wanted to learn more about them and how they work. Luckily, his father was an engineer and could talk to him and kindle his curiosity.

Even though Marcus did well in school, he could never nail down his interests. Nevertheless, he followed his passion for science and engineering. After earning himself a Bachelor’s degree, he went to the Technical University of Denmark to study Chemical Engineering and get a Master’s degree. All of this knowledge-soaking happened in the rumbling 90s.

Notwithstanding that, he decided he wanted to get another degree. So, he went to the Copenhagen Business School to study Finance for another 4 years. And right after this, he proceeded to INSEAD to undertake a Management Acceleration Program.

With that, Marcus finally wrapped up his formal education. Of course, nobody truly stops learning while they’re alive, and Marcus continued developing and refining his skills as he entered the workforce. This is where he got most of his practical knowledge that he would use to start his own business only a few short years later.

Ready! Set! Sail!

Marcus excelled in his university studies and truly shined. So, immediately after concluding his Master's degree, he decided to search for a job and get some practical experience onboard. As luck would have it, Marcus managed to get employed at Maersk Oil & Gas, where he worked as a Wellsite and Operations Engineer for 6 years.

During his time there, he worked both offshore and onshore. He got the opportunity to hone his craft and get up close and personal with how the chemical engineering industry works. He worked so hard that he even got promoted to a Business Developer in 2006 which further enriched his portfolio with more experience.

However, the most valuable thing he got from Maersk was networking. After working for many years there, Marcus had the chance to meet many important and influential people in that industry. These connections would later prove useful when starting his own business as he could get help and advice from these people.

After working for Maersk for several years, Marcus decided to move to a different company in search of more opportunities. Thanks to his expertise, GEA Farm Technologies employed Marcus as an Executive Assistant to the Finance and Strategy Division Director. With this, he additionally expanded his work experience, reeling in even more connections.

The Ship Has Sailed

After working at several high-paying positions, the next logical step for Marcus was to open a business of his own. Naturally, he wanted to combine his desire to start a company with his passion for ships, and he was the right man at the right time.

During his time studying chemical engineering and working at GEA and Maersk, he got to know how ecologically damaging ballast water management systems were at the time. He decided that he had to do something about it and make them better.

And thus, he set the foundations of Bawat A/S in Denmark in 2011. Even though it was a modest company at first, Marcus had the knowledge and expertise to carry it and do most of the work. After some time, he managed to make an innovative new design that was groundbreaking.

Stirring the waters of the industry, Bawat wasn’t alone at the top, but rather busy with fending off rivals like Renewable Water Resources, Trility, and PERC Water, among others.

What sets Bawat’s BWM system apart is its unique one-way pasteurization design. Without using any harmful chemicals or heavy filters, this system uses heat to neutralize the harmful organisms and sediments in the ballast water. The best part is that this uses the waste heat generated by generators, so it doesn't need to use any extra energy!

Bawat’s system is very robust. It can be used in any water condition and can operate while cruising, so it is perfectly flexible to be used anywhere. This, along with the low energy consumption, are two of Bawat’s biggest selling points.

Saving the Blue Requires Some Green

A large reason why Bawat succeeded was because of grants. In 2017, Horizon 2020 EU gave them a 3 million euro grant to work with. The company received this due to Bawat’s innovative solution and the pressing environmental need for such a system.

Even though funding for Bawat was difficult, especially at the beginning, Marcus strongly believed in the potential the project had and stuck with it. His tenacity finally paid off in 2019, when the company finally recorded its first net profits. This is the same year Bawat received type approval from the International Maritime Organization, which gave Bawat a giant boost in its popularity.

The business hasn't started its IPO yet. However, the company has announced that it will have its first offering in Q1 2022. With this IPO, Bawat expects to raise up to $10 million, which should help it enormously in its mission to keep the oceans safe and clean.

Smooth Sailing from Here on Out

Bawat is constantly searching for ways to expand its offering and improve its services in the future. Headquartered in Denmark, Bawat employs more than 20 people, all proud to contribute to repelling waste from our oceans.

For the immediate future, one of Bawat’s biggest aims is to have its innovative ballast water management system installed in as many different vessels as possible. To this end, the company recently announced its first-ever order from a cruise ship owner. This is a huge boost for Marcus and his company since it could lead to even more expansion of Bawat’s eco-friendly systems.

Looking more long-term, Bawat is focused on more sustainable development. The company is fully committed to Goal 14: LIFE BELOW WATER. This is one of 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals and seeks to protect the sea and oceans and keep them safe for future generations.

According to Bawat, this goal is fully in line with the company’s commitment to preserving the ecological well-being of Earth’s waters. Management hopes that their technology will help stop the spread of invasive biological species and keep the ecological balance of the sea.

The path Marcus Hummer had to take to make Bawat was anything but easy. However, thanks to his hard work, we now have a low-energy and eco-friendly ballast water management system that any ship can use, and that is something to be proud of.

We can all be that much more relaxed knowing that our seas and oceans are kept clean and safe for future generations to come, all thanks to a single innovative idea.