Page 46: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (January 2021)

COATINGS & CORROSION CONTROL

Hempel, its sustainability path and using coatings to

Meet Emission Targets

Image courtesy Hampel

By Tom Mulligan oatings specialist Hempel ing World War II as a result of US Navy In addition to developing its own sus- has adopted a ‘sustainability funded research performed by Woods tainability strategy, Hempel has joined path’ strategy to support the Hole Oceanographic Institution on ma- the Getting to Zero Coalition, a joint col-

Cshipping industry in meeting rine biofouling and its prevention, and, laborative effort between more than 90

IMO CO2 and SOx targets through the in modern times, anti-fouling coatings companies worldwide within the mari- use of high-performance anti-fouling are based on cuprous oxide or other cop- time, energy, infrastructue and ? nance coatings that contribute to increased fuel per compounds (and/or other biocides) sectors working towards commercially- ef? ciency and give cost reductions that to impede the growth of barnacles, al- viable zero-emission operations along offset investments in SOx abatement gae, and other marine organisms. His- deep-sea trade routes by 2030. Hempel technologies. torically, copper paints were red, which joined the Coalition in October 2019 to

How can paint increase a ship’s fuel is why ships’ hulls are still painted red work towards a more sustainable future ef? ciency? In fact, ‘paint’ is not exactly today. within maritime shipping, taking a high- the right term to use in this instance, ly active part in its technology track.

‘anti-fouling coatings’ being more accu- ‘Sustainability Path’ Strategy rate. Such coatings have been developed International industrial coatings spe- Increase Ef? ciency, Balance Costs because the maximum speed of a ship cialist Hempel Group, a $1.5 billion Hempel said that its newly developed decreases and its displacement increases turnover company headquartered in Hempaguard MaX hull coating system as its hull becomes fouled with marine Lyngby, Denmark, has decades of expe- helps shipowners offset the cost increas- growth, the two effects combined great- rience in developing and manufacturing es caused by the IMO’s 2020 Global ly reducing the fuel ef? ciency of the anti-fouling coatings, and has embarked Sulphur Cap because the savings deliv- vessel. upon a ‘sustainability path’, its strategy ered by this highly advanced new anti-

Anti-fouling coatings have been in to enable its customers to achieve their fouling coating help balance the cost use to maintain ship performance since sustainability goals with the develop- of the more expensive low-sulfur fuel the 19th century. Signi? cant develop- ment of highly ef? cient anti-fouling oil (LSFO) that vessels are turning to, ments in the technology took place dur- coatings as one of its core elements. with payback in just under four months. 46 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • January 2021

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