Shipping carbon emissions targets, IMO’s greenhouse gas strategy and COP26 are boosting the focus on coatings in the container sector, reports Riviera.
The path to zero emission
The maritime drive towards zero emissions is boosting the focus on ship coatings, where new innovations have recently been unveiled.
The main driver for container ship owners is to meet shipping’s carbon emissions targets call for a reduction of greenhouse gases (GHGs) by at least 50% by 2050 compared with 2008, and for at least a 40% reduction in the carbon intensity of international shipping by 2030 relative to 2008.
IMO’s GHG strategy aims to reach these targets through mechanisms such as the Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index (EEXI), which scores vessels for their efficiency.
Hempel Marine Solutions director Mads Raun Bertelsen says, “There is no time to waste, and the industry is waking up to the opportunities that a well-maintained hull with a professionally applied high-end coating can bring to its operations.”
Green ship of the future
Hempel’s involvement in the 2020 Green Ship of the Future study revealed if Hempel underwater hull coatings are applied on two reference vessels, a ropax ferry and a medium range tanker, the two ships combined would potentially have saved 4,182 tonnes in fuel and reduced CO2 emissions by 13,000 tonnes over a three-year period.
Mr Bertelsen says, “Hempel can validate these statistics in real terms when it looks to data drawn from across the more than 2,000 vessels, from bulk carriers to large container ships, that have been coated in Hempaguard X7 since the product was launched almost nine years ago. Collectively, these vessels have saved their operators €1.76Bn (US$1.96Bn) by reducing fuel consumption by 7.6M tonnes and cutting CO2 emissions by 23M tonnes.”
Hempaguard X7 is a very smooth silicone coating with non-stick properties that significantly reduces biofouling on a vessel’s hull. Its antifouling properties are released when biocide-activated hydrogel forms on the surface of the silicone coating. Mr Bertelsen explains, “The biocide becomes trapped in a layer of hydrogel on the surface of the coating where it is of most use to repel organisms. This makes it more effective than standard coatings while using 95% less biocide compared with self-polish coating technology. Further, the silicone-based technology ensures the coating is very smooth after application, reducing friction and increasing ease of movement through the water.”
He adds, “The choice of coating can play a significant role on a vessel’s hull performance and efficiency and container ship owners are looking for solutions that will help meet the industry’s increasingly stringent regulations.”
In 2021, Hempel added hull inspection and advisory services to its offering. “We now provide a full range of data-driven services that enable vessel operators to maximise fuel savings and minimise emissions on multiple vessels. We also added Seamflow, an innovative weld seam service. Performed on oceangoing vessels, this improves hull hydrodynamics to reduce fuel consumption and associated emissions,” says Mr Bertelsen.
Its most recent news is that Hempel has had its emissions reduction targets approved by the Science Based Targets initiative. The targets covering greenhouse gas emissions from Hempel’s operations (scopes 1 and 2) are consistent with reductions required to keep warming to 1.5°C, what the latest climate science says is needed to prevent the most damaging effects of climate change.
COP26 and coatings
Nippon Paint points out other initiatives pushing the focus on to coatings: the staging of the COP26’s Clydebank Declaration is seen as a definite step forward for the shipping sector. Initially signed by 22 governments and industry leaders, the agreement commits to establishing green shipping corridors – zero-emissions routes between two or more ports – while acknowledging existing efforts and technologies need to be accelerated if previous commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions are to be met.
In addition to alternative propulsion systems and alternative marine fuels, hull coatings have long been recognised as playing a significant role in reducing the environmental impact of vessel operations, as Nippon Paint Marine (Singapore) managing director Bill Phua attests.
“Energy efficiency and carbon emissions are inseparably linked to fouling growth. Algae and barnacles add significant frictional resistance [drag] requiring more engine power to move the ship through the water. This results in speed loss and, as a result, fuel consumption and carbon emissions increase.”
Additionally, the accumulation of marine fouling may cause the spread of invasive aquatic species in the environment they have been transported to, thus affecting biodiversity and its ecosystem. “An effective antifouling paint minimises all of these environmental impacts,” says Mr Phua.
Binder technology forms the basis of Nippon Paint Marine’s latest innovation, FASTAR
Pushing the boundaries of what is possible from a self-polishing copolymer antifouling paint, FASTAR incorporates nano-sized hydrophilic and hydrophobic resin binders enabling the antifouling ions that come from the biocide to be extracted to a high level of accuracy and uniformity.
Two versions of the new self-polishing coating are available: FASTAR I and FASTAR XI, of which the latter variant incorporates Nippon Paints famed hydrogel water trapping function to achieve further fuel savings of up to 8% with just a 1% loss in speed over a 60-month service interval. Both versions benefit from reduced dry film thickness, meaning it takes less time to apply and dry than conventional coatings.
“FASTAR sets the benchmark high in terms of delivering precise, predictable polishing rates and antifouling performance, but also improves drydock efficiency, reducing application costs, fuel consumption and emissions,” says Nippon Paint Marine (China) M&R sales director Jun Ye.
“Both variants are already winning orders on newbuilding projects, particularly in China, which is predicted to turn out 49% of all new vessels this year,” he says.
One early adopter of FASTAR is Chinese shipping giant Cosco Shipping, which has specified the coating for several newbuild vessels under construction. Similarly, Evergreen Marine has specified Nippon Paint Marine coatings for its four latest 24,000-TEU vessels currently under construction in China.
“A key consideration for operators in specifying a hull coating is the increasing congestion at container ports. Waiting to get dockside on arrival at port can mean lengthy idling time – the increasing size of container vessels inevitably means they take longer to dock and unload, while the ongoing Covid-19 situation has only added to delays, not least through reduced staffing in the port,” says Mr Jun.
“An idling ship is more at risk of marine life attaching itself to the hull, so an antifouling coating that minimises this risk offers the operator a real and measurable commercial advantage.”
While many newbuilding vessels of all types are increasingly incorporating less environmentally damaging technology, of the world’s 50,000-strong maritime fleet, about 2,500 are expected to be fully green by 2030. Therefore, the ship repair market is key to increasing the number of oceangoing vessels incorporating more fuel-efficient coatings on their hulls.
“For vessel owners and operators, the inevitable commercial imperative is to minimise time spent in drydock,” says Mr Phua. “For Nippon Paint Marine, the reduced thickness and fast drying time of FASTAR – up to 37% faster for a large container vessel depending on the ambient local temperature – gives them a key commercial advantage.”
For Nippon Paint Marine, the regulatory and commercial imperative for any shipowner is clear. “Working to improve fuel efficiency by using advanced antifouling coatings will increase competitiveness and reduce the environmental impact. The enforcement of ever-stricter regulations requires ship operators to up their ante to comply with the many regulations that will come into force. Investing in green technologies will help them to save costs as well as conserve the environment. Keeping a clean hull is the way ahead,” says Mr Phua.
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Source: Riviera
