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Global coatings supplier Hempel has today (10 September) launched Hempaguard®, a new hull coating concept for the shipping industry which is said to offer both outstanding resistance to fouling during idle periods and significant fuel savings.

The technology, dubbed ActiGuard®, has been five years in development and is based on silicone-hydrogel and biocide science.

Hempel’s tests are said to show 'excellent' fouling resistance of up to 120 days during idle periods plus fuel savings of six percent on average with Hempaguard.

Hempel says it is so convinced of Hempaguard‘s performance that it is offering a performance satisfaction guarantee contract for vessels complying with a full Hempaguard X7 specification.

Launching Hempaguard in London to global fleet owners and operators during London International Shipping Week, Fouling Control Marketing Manager Claes Skat-Rørdam said: "If you are not satisfied for any reason using Hempel’s top tier product HEMPAGUARD® X7, Hempel will pay, under the performance satisfaction guarantee contract, for the conversion of Hempaguard back to conventional antifouling and with no questions asked."

Commenting on the development process, Hempel said: "With rising bunkering costs, tightening environmental regulations and mandatory Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plans (SEEMP), fleet operators turned to Hempel for a new hull coating that really could make a much-needed difference to their business."

As a result, Hempel scientists spent five years developing and testing Hempel’s patented ActiGuard technology. ActiGuard integrates silicone-hydrogel and full diffusion control of biocides in a single coating. Surface retention of the biocide activates the hydrogel, which effectively holds fouling organisms at bay, cutting friction to a minimum while utilizing a minimum amount of biocide. It also has the long-term stability and mechanical properties required of a durable solution.

The result is the fouling defence system, Hempaguard, which Hempel says ensures 'excellent' performance during long idle periods, plus 'remarkable' fuel savings and flexibility.

"This is indeed groundbreaking and will provide significant advantages for fleet operators all over the world," Hempel said.

"Our goal was to re-think the market. By introducing this concept and a performance satisfaction guarantee contract, that is precisely what we have done," remarked Skat-Rørdam.

"Our tests have shown that HEMPAGUARD® retains its effectiveness when switching between slow and fast steaming anywhere in the world as well as during extended idle periods of up to 120 days. This is particularly interesting for bulk carriers that can be redirected at short notice, as well as larger container vessels and tankers that may wish to increase speed to meet schedules, or slow steam to achieve extra fuel savings," Skat-Rørdam added.