International launches new hull coatings management package

Package includes coatings, ROV inspections, big data analysis and proactive cjeaning

AkzoNobel’s International marine coatings brand has launched a new, environmentally sustainable, hull management package. Called Intertrac HullCare, it combines advanced hull coatings, remotely operated ROV inspections, water jet hull cleaning technologies and big data monitoring to create a new hull management solution that can guarantee a speed loss of no more than 1% over a 10-year period.

Customers have the option to choose between a 5-year or 10-year scheme. Over a 10-year period, says International, Intertrac HullCare can help operators achieve step-change reductions in CO2 emissions of up to 34,000 tonnes and fuel savings of $5.3 million in comparison to a typical five-year fouling control system, by ensuring that smooth, clean hulls are maintained.

This is all achieved without upfront capital investment in on board robotic equipment installation and associated costs of vessel modification.

The company says that the Intertrac HullCare data suite, operational cycle, value adding guidance and flexible docking intervals all ensure customers can take unprecedented control of their vessel’s hull management and make informed decisions, with confidence.

“AkzoNobel is committed to investing in the sustainability of our company and that of our industry partners,” says Jean-Michel Gauthier, director for AkzoNobel Marine, Protective and Yacht Coatings. “Tackling the environmental impact of the shipping industry and in particular hull performance is an abiding priority we share with operators worldwide.”

The advanced remote inspection and cleaning technologies used, have been developed and tested in close collaboration with leading global equipment suppliers over the last five years, says Gauthier.

Inspection teams in key ports use the latest underwater remotely operated ROV technology, developed in Silicon Valley, to assess the condition of underwater hulls quickly and precisely. This establishes performance insights without the on-board crew needing to assist.

BIG DATA

Harnessing the power of AkzoNobel‘s access to big data. Intertrac HullCare uses the ISO19030 standard as guidance and combines this with patented software and algorithm to generate deep insights and measure key performance indicators on hull performance in-line with performance guarantee.

The Intertrac HullCare analysis team ensures the collation, analysis and reporting for of vessel performance, with quarterly reports being provided via the Intertrac Perform analytics platform. These form a key part of the fleet performance reviews that International conducts with owners.

PROACTIVE HULL CLEANING

Proactive hull cleaning, through a network of designated waterjet cleaning specialist is included as part of Intertrac HullCare to help boost savings during the dry-docking cycle. All cleaning is aligned to the BIMCO industry standard for hull cleaning—meaning it is conducted using cleaning technology, with reclamation as standard. AkzoNobel says that waterjet cleaning gently, but effectively, cleans coatings “without the potential damage associated with typical brush-based cleaning methods” and, that reclamation as standard goes further to help mitigate the translocation of invasive species when compared to alternative cleaning methods.

Should the data analytics suggest a drop off in performance that could be coatings related, an ROV inspection can be scheduled and an additional hull cleaning carried out if necessary,

“Our Intertrac HullCare system sets new standards for operational efficiencies – delivering more added value and going further than any other system currently on the market,” says John Willsher, global account manager – marine for AkzoNobel. “It optimizes paint consumption and maintenance while having the lowest environmental footprint of any similar scheme, as well as future-proofing against environmental legislation. That includes the use of reclamation when cleaning which we believe is of particular importance in mitigating the risk of translocation of invasive species.

“The data suite, operational cycle, value adding guidance and flexible docking intervals all ensure customers can take unprecedented control of their vessel’s hull management and make informed decisions, with confidence.”