Page 14: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (February 2024)

The Path to Zero – Sponsored

EverClean

The always clean performance solution • • • •

Save fuel Reduce carbon Minimize downtime Maintain biosecurity Improve performance

T e Four E’s of Marine Sustainability:

EverClean’s Solution to Biofouling t is a new year, but the age-old problem of biofouling per- may seem, the early returns suggest taking a truly proactive sists. Previous articles in this publication have highlighted cleaning approach to biofouling management works, such as

Ithe ongoing work in the ? eld of biofouling management, utilizing Greensea IQ’s EverClean product offering. This is but it is a drum that must be beaten frequently. Biofoul- achieved through the four E’s: effectiveness, ef? ciency, eco- ing causes excessive fuel consumption and greenhouse gas nomic viability, and environmental friendliness.

(GHG) emissions, as well as enables the spread of aquatic The effectiveness of proactive cleaning can be viewed sim- nuisance species (ANS). Left unchecked, it can also become a ply as the removal of fouling from a hull. It’s quite obvious maintenance problem. Simply, biofouling is both an economic that if biofouling isn’t removed, the cleaning wasn’t terribly (fuel consumption and maintenance costs) problem and an en- effective. But that’s only part of the measure. Nearly as criti- vironmental (fossil fuels, GHG emissions, and ANS) problem. cal as removal when assessing frequent cleaning, the clean-

New solutions are emerging, but for successful uptake, these ing method must not damage the coating in any way or de- solutions must be effective, ef? cient, and economically vi- crease the lifespan of the coating. Greensea IQ has conducted able—not to mention environmentally friendly. signi? cant research to determine the optimal combination of

Although ? nding an environmentally friendly solution brush material, speed, and downforce to ensure comprehen- seems painfully obvious with regard to solving an environ- sively effective cleaning. Panels are coated to manufacturers’ mental problem, it’s critical that the solution to the immedi- speci? cations and allowed to foul naturally, then cleaned in ate problem does not simply kick the can down the road. Ad- a controlled environment. Accelerated wear testing is also dressing the economic impacts also must not supersede the conducted: the panels are subjected to up to a thousand brush environmental concerns. As complex as this balancing act passes, greatly exceeding the cleaning load a ship would ever expect to experience. The coating is then studied to determine

Greensea IQ van used if any scratching or other mechanical damage has occurred, for remote operations of and the dry ? lm thickness is calculated and compared against

EverClean robot ? eet.

the readings following application. With this information, shipowners can feel con? dent that employing EverClean for biofouling maintenance will not negatively impact the perfor- mance of their hull coating and will keep their hull free of performance-robbing fouling.

The ef? ciency of proactive cleaning is the measure of how the completion of a cleaning evolution impacts the vessel schedule. Time is money; traditional hull-cleaning methods often take multiple days to complete a cleaning, which may require the ship to be removed from service during that time.

Large cleaning systems designed to clean macrofouling can be dif? cult to mobilize and deploy, adding time and expense to the operation. A large pierside footprint may prevent clean- ing concurrently with other necessary in-port operations.

EverClean, however, can ? t into vessel operational schedules.

All images courtesy of Greensea IQ 14 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • February 2024

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