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COATINGS
Clean Shipping International explores how coatings manufacturers are doing their bit for the environment by improving a vessel’s hull performance
HULL PERFORMANCE IS KEY TO SUCCESS Following the launch of Jotun’s HullKeeper, a proactive hull optimisation programme, Clean Shipping International spoke with Stein Kjølberg, the company’s Global Category Director Hull Performance. HullKeeper is the latest in a series of initiatives and complements Hull Performance Solutions (HPS), launched in 2011, and Hull Skating Solutions (HSS), launched last year. HPS combines Jotun’s most advanced antifouling system, digital capabilities and analytical and technical expertise, to help operators keep fuel costs under control and indeed to save money. It combines advanced antifouling technology, inspection and proactive cleaning to keep the hull free of fouling at all times. Jotun’s HPS analysis service fully complies with ISO 19030, which is based on the methodology developed in HPS, and Jotun was very much involved in the development of this standard, Kjølberg says. It isolates the impact of a ship’s underwater surfaces on its energy efficiency
C L E A N S H I P P I N G INTERNATIONAL – Summer 2021
by tracking relative changes in the relationship between the power delivered to the propeller and speed through water over time. HSS, meanwhile, was unveiled by Jotun in March last year. The first company to take advantage of this initiative was large containership operator, Mediterranean Shipping Co (MSC). HSS is based on HullSkater, the first robotic technology (ROV) housed on a ship designed for proactive cleaning. It was specified for the specially developed highperformance SeaQuantum Skate antifouling, on the 14,000teu MSC Eva. More recently, HullSkater was chosen to be fitted on board a series of 16,000teu containerships being built at Hyundai Heavy Industries for HMM Co. Designed to help shipowners face the most severe biofouling challenges, it combines the antifouling and robotic proactive cleaner and is housed on board the vessel. Jotun operators control the HullSkater via a 4G connection, conducting
