Page 54: of Marine News Magazine (February 2020)

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T ferries into drydock within two weeks of each other, they when trying to maintain a fouling free hull. Technology in needed a very fast turnaround to ensure both vessels could hull coatings has advanced and exceled in recent years and be back in service as quickly as possible. there are now solutions that remain effective even during

The two vessels needed repairs to their anti-corrosive idle periods of up to 120 days and in waters of varying tem- topside coatings and worldwide coatings manufacturer peratures. One such example is Hempel’s Hempaguard X7.

Hempel had just the solution comprising Hempadur Easy Rix Sea Shuttle provides shuttle services to offshore wind and Hempadur 47182. The ? rst is a heavy-duty epoxy farms and adopted Hempaguard X7 for its Alicat-class coating that dries in as little as little as two hours and cures support vessel Rix Cheetah. The hull was already coated to a hard and tough coating with good resistance to abra- with an antifouling product, but Rix was not satis? ed with sion and sea water. The latter is a combined anti-corrosive its performance so decided to switch to Hempaguard X7. primer and tie-coat sealer that eliminates one step in the The unique Hempaguard X7 can be applied on top of coating process. This solution was a win-win as it not only an existing hull coating which meant that time and costs in offered corrosion protection but returned the vessels to ser- drydock were signi? cantly reduced. This coating solution vice quickly. is one of the most highly developed hull coatings to date and is a market leading solution for offshore vessels thanks

Standing idly by to its unrivalled operational ? exibility. Not only does it de-

Many coastal and offshore vessels spend time lying idle liver on average six per cent fuels savings across the entire and have variable operating patterns which is challenging docking interval but also continues to perform if a vessel changes its operating patterns.

Long-term planning gives long-term bene? ts

Coastal and offshore vessels operate in environments in which oysters, mussels, seaweed and barnacles can all cause macro-fouling. Additionally, their operating patterns can mean that they are more prone to fouling. If the appropri- ate coatings are carefully selected and applied, the hydro- dynamic drag and subsequent fuel expenditure are both reduced signi? cantly, as well as saving time in drydock.

To ensure that a vessel remains in prime condition,

Hempel’s FROSIO/NACE certi? ed coating advisors can perform a vessel inspection in order to identify potential maintenance requirements and establish a comprehensive maintenance plan. The plan includes maintenance manu- als and posters, as well as detailed advice on surface prepa- ration. A full evaluation is also given to determine the best coating for the job.

Naturally, owners and operators should be working with their coatings partner to reduce the amount of time spent in drydock and maximize the time they spend in the water.

They can do this by choosing the best coatings solution for their vessel and their business needs. However, this cannot be done by focusing all attention on the cheapest or most readily available products on the market. With the chal- lenging year that lies ahead, OSV and coastal vessel owners and operators should be more selective, and ? nd a solution that will enhance operational ef? ciency, improve bottom line and protect assets in the long term.

February 2020

MN 54