Tag: antifouling

EU-funded researchers are working on cost-effective anti-fouling coatings for boats and marine infrastructure that are better for the environment. The four-year SEAFRONT project, launched in 2014, has trialled new processes and methods designed to increase scientific understanding of exactly how biofouling occurs and how this problem can best be addressed. This initial work will help in the development of a new generation of anti-biofouling technologies, which will be able to effectively minimise biofouling on marine infrastructure and tools without damaging the ecosystem.

AkzoNobel’s Marine Coatings brand, International has announced the launch of Intertrac Vision, a tool that according to the company it provides accurate and transparent predictions on the fuel and CO2 savings potential of fouling control coatings, prior to application.Company claims that the advanced science of Intertrac Vision has taken over four years to develop. The work has been led by its own scientists who have also collaborated with leading academic and commercial research institutes, including the University College London Energy Institute, MARIN, Newcastle University and more than 30 ship owners and operators worldwide.Intertrac Vision, combines an understanding of total hull roughness (micro and macro) and ‘roughness’ associated with biofouling and uses studies carried out by computational fluid dynamics (CFD) on different hull forms in order to make accurate predictions on the impact of fouling control coatings on the comparative powering requirements of a vessel. Collectively, Intertrac Vision comprises hundreds of thousands of datasets, making it the shipping industry’s first Big Data solution to accurately predict the performance of a coating technology prior to application.The Intertrac Vision tool, which will be available as a free consultancy service for ship owners and operators, processes individual vessel parameters, inputted during a consultation and then uses multiple proprietary ...

 ​The control of harmful anti-fouling systems is on the agenda at a national workshop, led by IMO, in Dar es Salaam, the United Republic of Tanzania (14-15 October). Since the adoption of the convention prohibiting the use of harmful anti-fouling systems on ships (AFS Convention) in 2001, IMO has been holding national and regional workshops to encourage and assist countries in the ratification of the convention and in the development of relevant national legislation.As a result, the number of States signing up to the convention continues to rise, thereby improving protection of both the marine environment and workers involved in the maintenance of ships' hulls.Environmentally-sound practices for the disposal of waste generated in applying and removing anti-fouling systems will also be presented and discussed at the workshop, which is being run by IMO’s Markus Helavuori, Marine Environment Division, and a team of consultants.The AFS Convention prohibits the use of harmful organotins in anti-fouling paints used on ships and establishes a mechanism to prevent the potential future use of other harmful substances in anti-fouling systems.Anti-fouling paints are used to coat the bottoms of ships to prevent sealife such as algae and molluscs attaching themselves to the hull – thereby slowing down ...

  PPG Protective and Marine Coatings has announced SIGMA SAILADVANCE, a new range of high performance, antifoulings suitable for a variety of operating conditions. The range currently comprises four coatings, including SIGMA SAILADVANCE RX and GX, two completely new formulations based on PPG’s own patented technologies. These antifoulings are based on self-release binder technology using Controlled Surface active Polymers (CSPs) which provide a self-lubrication and self-release mechanism to the coating. CSP acts on the coating/water interface as a lubricant, which supports laminar flow, thereby lowering the hull friction when the ship is sailing and delivering fuel savings averaging five per cent. In addition, CSPs create a ‘slippery surface’ that increases the resistance to fouling when the ship is not sailing and, extending potential idle days. Tom Molenda, PPG’s Global Marine Director, said: “The SAILADVANCE range has been developed in the knowledge that to meet today’s market needs, a coating must cover a wide range of vessel types and operational conditions. Owners want to reduce energy consumption and lower their total costs regardless of how their ships are operating. SAILADVANCE RX and GX meet this need whether the ship is sailing, idle or slow steaming, regardless of being applied during new ...

  GAC EnvironHull has signed a contract with the international energy company Statoil to provide underwater hull cleaning services for its vessels operating in Scandinavia, the Middle East and the Far East. From the second quarter of 2015, GAC EnvironHull, part of global shipping, logistics and marine services provider GAC Group, is using its pioneering HullWiper technology to remove fouling from the Statoil fleet of long term chartered vessels to enhance efficiency and reduce fuel consumption, whilst also preserving and protecting the delicate maritime environment. HullWiper is a diver-free underwater hull Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV) which uses high pressure water jets to remove marine fouling. It can clean up to 2,000 m² of hull per hour without causing any damage to anti-fouling surfaces. As no divers are involved, cleaning can be done alongside during loading or discharging operations, and any risk to life is significantly reduced. HullWiper cleans about five times faster than conventional cleaning methods, reducing the cleaning time by approximately half. The entire process is in line with the GAC Group’s stringent Health, Safety, Security and Environment (HSSE) and compliance policies, as well as all local and regional environmental regulations. Residues and harmful marine growths captured during cleaning ...

DNV GL is launching an advanced hull and propeller performance analytics module as part of the new fleet performance management service ECO Insight. The module is based on computational fluid dynamics (CFD) methods to correct for changing operational conditions and produces much more accurate results than existing approximate or experimental methods. Fuel efficiency remains a key concern for shipping, but tracking hull and propeller degradation is a challenge that has not yet found an adequate solution. Experts suggest that, as a result of hull fouling, the world fleet could be sailing with approximately 30 per cent added resistance and consequently significantly higher levels of fuel consumption. Undertaking hull and propeller cleaning on a more regular basis is already recognized as improvement lever by many shipping companies. However, the question of when and how the procedure should be carried out has not yet been addressed systematically. Hull and propeller performance computations show how much resistance is added over time due to fouling, by analysing the gap between the theoretical and measured power demand of a vessel, after correcting for influences like speed, draft, trim, weather and other operating conditions. “We use data that shipping companies are already collecting,” Dr Torsten Büssow, ...

Building on the industry proven GLOBIC and DYNAMIC range of antifouling systems,  marine coatings manufacturer Hempel announces the launch of two new antifouling products for dry-dockings and new buildings which deliver fuel savings of up to 3% and provide added flexibility to shipowners and yards. GLOBIC 8000 is a brand new hydrolysing self-polishing antifouling product that fits neatly between the existing GLOBIC 6000 and GLOBIC 9000 antifouling systems. It builds on proven GLOBIC technology to deliver premium performance at a reasonable price. It incorporates Hempel’s nano acrylate technology which delivers a fine polishing control mechanism to bring the integral biocides to the surface at a stable rate ensuring a clean hull. GLOBIC 8000 can be used on all vessels at all speeds but its nano acrylate technology binder makes it particularly effective for slow-steaming operations because of its instant activation of polishing and biocide leaching. DYNAMIC 8000, also launched today, extends the current DYNAMIC range utilising silylated acrylate technology to deliver an outstanding antifouling service at higher speeds. Announcing the launch, Andreas Glud, Hempel’s Group Product Manager said: “These two new products offer a wider choice for owners and yards and deliver exceptional value-for-money. They comprise 58% volume solids and ...

Noisy ships attractive to molluscs

Eniram Unveils a Comprehensive Study on the Effects of Hull Fouling on Cruise Ships

New clause tackles responsibility for hull fouling