Stolt Tankers is expanding its use of Shipshave’s In-Transit Cleaning of Hulls (ITCH) robot technology to enhance fleet sustainability.
Following successful trials showing fuel savings of over 10%, Stolt Tankers plans to double its ITCH units to 20. According to Stolt Tanker, the ITCH system, is a semi-autonomous robot that cleans the hull while the ship is in transit, and is aimed at reducing marine biofouling, thus minimizing drag and optimizing energy efficiency.
As informed, by maintaining a clean hull, the technology helps the company reduce emissions and operational costs, avoiding the more traditional and costly methods of cleaning in port or dry dock.
This approach can also benefit the marine environment by preventing the spread of invasive species and reducing pollutants from hull coatings, Stolt Tankers informs.
Alongside ITCH, Stolt Tankers is trialing GIT graphene coatings on hulls and propellers to further enhance fuel efficiency by minimizing biofouling.
