Pacific Basin trusts in graphene-based propeller coatings

Developed by Canadian company GIT Coatings, this coating has reportedly shown the potential to improve vessel performance by up to 4%, making it an effective solution for enhancing CII and RightShip GHG ratings. Following a successful trial on one of its Supramax dry bulk vessels, Pacific Basin has initiated the rollout of XGIT-PROP across 40 vessels scheduled for dry dock maintenance in 2024.

Maiko Arras, Director of Business Development at GIT Coatings, expressed his enthusiasm about the collaboration with Pacific Basin, stating, “While we have established fleet supply agreements with many other shipping companies, Pacific Basin stands out as the largest to fully integrate XGIT-PROP across a fleet of dry bulk vessels.”

Previously, Pacific Basin had been using silicone paint for coating its vessels’ propellers, which often suffered from edge damages requiring the entire propeller coating to be stripped and reapplied at each docking.

XGIT-PROP is a biocide-free hard foul release coating designed to withstand the challenging conditions faced by propellers. It allegedly overcomes the limitations of conventional, biocide-based soft foul release coatings that release silicone oils and often peel away from propeller blades.

According to Pacific Basin, this initiative represents the largest adoption of graphene-based propeller coating in the dry bulk sector. 

By adopting XGIT-PROP hard coating for our entire fleet, we are taking a proactive step towards more sustainable practices. We hope to maintain a damage-free, smooth propeller surface and improve efficiency over longer periods.

… said Sanjay Relan, General Manager of Optimisation & Decarbonisation at Pacific Basin, while also highlighting the proactive approach the company is taking towards sustainability. 

To remind, last April, Stolt Tankers and GIT signed a two-year agreement to apply GIT’s XGIT-PROP graphene-based marine coating to the propellers of 25 Stolt Tankers ships during 2023.