Wave cutters

Matthew Scotland meets the experts charged with making VLCC's carve the deep blue for less.

Transporting gargantuan volumes of oil through the oceans and seas of planet earth is no mean feat, as I'm sure you are already aware. One way the paints and coatings manufacturers can make life easier for the tanker operators involved is by providing a product that not only is resistant to the harsh environment met at sea, but also can cut through the water with as little friction as is possible.

Hempel recently announced the launch of its third generation anti-fouling based product, Hempasil X3. "We are so confident in Hempasil X3's fuel saving potential that we also are offering a fuel saving guarantee with the coating system," says Torben Rasmussen, Hempel's group product manager.

The silicone biocide-free coating, something that Hempel lays claim to filing the first patent for in the early 1970s, secures adhesion between the epoxy system and the silicone topcoat, as well as obtaining a high fouling release capacity of the silicone topcoat.

The Hempasil X3's functionality is based on a dual strategy, explains Rasmussen. Firstly, a fouling prevention capability is offered by the hydrogel microlayer between the solid silicone and the seawater. The second factor is the self-cleaning capability which is supposedly enhanced at lower speeds.

Hydrogel is a network of non-reactive polymer chains that are water-insoluble, and have a high degree of flexibility due to their water content. "Fouling organisms will perceive the undulating hydrogel as a liquid and will not be able to attach to the hull," states Rasmussen.

But importantly it has been developed for both operational economy and global ecology, by giving fuel savings and reducing CO₂ emissions.

Reductions in hull skin friction have shown substantial fuel savings compared to conventional solutions, and Hempel claims the new product can outperform tin-free self-polishing anti-foulings on offer.

Speaking to Oil and Gas Middle East, Stein Kjolberg, regional marine director, Jotun UAE, explained the importance of using low friction anti-fouling coatings on the hulls of tankers.

READERS' COMMENTS

MORE FROM ARABIANBUSINESS.COM