combined with the oversupply will
keep the freight rates low and ship
operators will look for more cost efficient coatings solutions.
In addition, environmental regulations will point the direction for how
paint manufacturers will spend a significant part of their R&D resources.
This will definitely lead to a ‘greener’
shipping industry to the benefit of all
of us.
Rather than one size fits all we see
NEW MARINE
COATING TECHNOLOGY
One of the key features of
Hempasil X3, a new marine paint
from Hempel, is it helps reduce fuel
consumption, a key concern among
ship owners. With vast numbers of
ships traveling the world’s oceans
daily and consuming large quantities of fossil fuels, it is not surprising that fleet owners would be
focused on ways to reduce their
fuel bills and carbon footprint. The
problem of higher fuel costs associated with ineffective marine paint
is the area the new Hempasil X3
package aims to address.
Hempasil X3 comes with a guarantee that it will reduce a sea vessel’s fuel consumption by at least
four to eight percent within the
first year, depending on the type of
ship. Because ships consume so
much fuel, it has been shown to cut
a vessel’s fuel bill by up to $1.5 million annually with a promise to significantly lower CO2 emissions,
according to the company.
The system comes as a package
that includes the paint system, the
fuel saving guarantee and a third-party onboard fuel monitoring system—SeaTrend from Force Technology—that measures and documents fuel savings.
Hempasil X3 uses hydrogel silicone
to prevent fouling on a vessel’s hull.
The water-absorbent hydrogel forms a
polymeric network over the hull fooling organisms to perceive the hull as a
liquid and not a solid surface, and as a
result, they don’t try to catch hold. The
that one size fits none. We truly
believe that the marine coatings market will demand more customized
solutions. The players that are able to
fully deliver on customer demands
and their changes in demands will win
a great part of the market. We already
see a diversity of technologies in
antifouling paints and alternative
solutions like fouling release coatings
and hard coatings.
Another niche in the market is
hydrogel layer is backed up by silicone,
known for its self-cleaning properties.
Just this past April, Hempel also
launched Hempadur Quattro, a new
universal coating for year-round application. The new universal primer,
Hempadur Quattro, is the first anticorrosive coating in a new epoxy category—Universal Epoxy. Officially
launched on April 2, Hempadur
Quattro is suitable for a wide range of
surfaces and offers a year-round application window. It has been type-approved in accordance with
IMO/PSPC rules for ballast tanks,
which call for 15-year protection. It can
be applied to almost any surface,
greatly simplifying the specifications,
and so reducing costs, on large coating
projects, according to the company.
Sherwin-Williams’ Protective
and Marine Coatings Division
recently introduced SeaGuard
Heavy Metal Free Antifoulant, an
environmentally responsible alternative to copper-based hull coatings that prevents the growth of
marine organisms on commercial
and military ships.
The new product received U.S. EPA
approval on June 30, 2008. SeaGuard
Heavy Metal Free Antifoulant is a sol-vent-based ablative coating that utilizes a metal-free organic biocide agent
and provides the same effective
antifouling protection as traditional
copper-based coatings, according to the
company. Because the antifouling
agent in SeaGuard Heavy Metal Free
has an extremely short hydrolytic halflife, it does not persist or accumulate in
the marine environment and will not
copper-free antifoulings, even
though cuprous oxide is probably the
biocide that has the most documentation as being environmentally sustainable. Recent innovations in
antifoulings have focused on better
delivery systems for the biocides.
Cuprous oxide in combination with
silyl acrylate binder technology is
proven to be an excellent performer
and will continue play a significant
role in the future. CW
harm marine organisms. The breakdown products are biodegradable.
Additionally, SeaGuard Heavy
Metal Free Antifoulant offers ship
owners the potential advantages of
added fuel savings and tonnage compared to traditional antifoulings
because eliminating the copper provides a substantial reduction in
weight—up to five pounds per gallon, or 40% less weight, compared to
traditional copper antifoulings.
Another environmental advantage
of SeaGuard Heavy Metal Free
Antifoulant is its lower level of
VOCs at less than 340 grams per
liter. It may be applied at temperatures as low as 40°F ( 10°C).
Available in red or black, Sherwin-
Williams’ SeaGuard Heavy Metal Free
Antifoulant is an ablative coating, which
allows the coating surface to slough off
gradually, exposing new biocide that
maintains the coating’s effectiveness
over time. It can be used to overcoat
existing antifouling coating systems,
and provides a long service life.
