Third Chugoku A/F to contain bio-repellent Selektope

Philip Chaabane, CEO I-Tech AB

JUNE 22, 2017 — Chugoku Marine Paints (CMP) has added a third product containing the the bio-repellent antifouling ingredient Selektope.

Chugoku’s Sea Grandprix 880HS Plus is based on hydrolyzing technology and can be applied to deep sea-going vessels trading worldwide in service periods for up to 90 months. CMP guarantees extended static performance of up to 45 days, thanks to the barnacle-repellent boost enabled by Selektope, which combats barnacle settlement on the ship’s hull by temporarily stimulating the barnacle larvae’s swimming behavior.

The organic, non-metal compound is the only one of its kind in a marine antifouling application. It is characterized by high efficacy at extremely low concentrations (approx.0.1% w/w), ultra-low leaching and flexibility to boost copper-based paint formulations or replace copper completely. Due to the low concentration needed, Selektope does not compromise the chemical structure, color or other cooperative biocides of a marine coating.

For the inventors of Selektope, Gothenburg-based I-Tech AB, the increase in the number of products on the market that harness the power of Selektope is an encouraging sign of the confidence held by paint manufacturers in the technology. It says this latest product launch “is set to be the first of many in the near future from an array of manufacturers.”

“As demand for Selektope soars, the number of antifouling products that contain our unique bio-repellent ingredient is expanding. This ensures that shipowners and operators have a selection of products to choose from, and confirms the flexibility and compatibility of our product with a range of different antifouling ingredients,” says Philip Chaabane, CEO I-Tech AB.

Marine coating products containing Selektope have been applied to over 150 vessels to date, including: tankers; containerships, and LNG carriers, in a series of newbuilding and over-coating projects. I-Tech reports orders for coatings including Selektope in the first part of 2017 being double those achieved in 2016.

I-Tech is a Gothenburg based bio-tech company with global reach, holding all IP and regulatory rights to the antifouling agent Selektope (generic name, medetomidine). The company is privately held and is supported by Swedish Energy Association, the European Innovation Initiative Eco-Innovation and FP7 SeaFront. The company is a member of the Astra Zeneca BioVentureHub.

Philip Chaabane, CEO I-Tech AB