Hempel has revealed that its antifouling coating, Hempaguard, has been applied to 500 ships as of yesterday (April 26, 2016).
This milestone was reached following two and a half years of the product being on the market. Rising costs associated with bunkering and tightening environmental regulations have led to a soar in the take up antifouling coatings to reduce operational costs and improve efficiency.
Furthermore, the mandatory implementation of the Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP), has driven the application of such coatings.
Hempaguard has the ability to provide a strong resistance against fouling, and the company say that unlike regular hull coatings, Hempaguard retains its effectiveness when switching between slow and regular steaming. The product, which is suitable to all ship types, is said to have proven fuel efficiency levels of around 6%.
It is also the first product to use Hempel’s patented Actiguard technology that integrates silicone-hydrogel and full diffusion control of biocides in a single coating.
Claes Skat-Roerdam, Marketing Manager, Fouling Control, Hempel A/S commented “Hempaguard’s success is a true testament of how well our coating has been received by ship owners. The combination of silicone-hydrogel and biocide science has revolutionised antifouling technology to deliver excellent fouling resistance. Our aim is to continue to connect with our customers to develop trusted solutions that match their evolving ship operating patterns”.
Hempel A/S Group Vice President, Marine Marketing, Christian Ottosen added: “Feedback from our customers has been resoundingly positive, confirming their vessels have remained significantly cleaner and for longer than they’ve experienced with any other antifouling product.”
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