Image credit: Hempel

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Coatings manufacturer Hempel says it has applied Hempaguard, its fouling defence coating, to more than 1,000 ships. The one-thousandth full-vessel coating is said to have been performed in April.

According to Denmark-headquartered Hempel, the fuel-saving properties of Hempaguard have enabled the owners of these 1,000 vessels to collectively reduce their annual bunker bill by more than $400 million, which corresponds to a reduction in CO2 emissions of more than three million tonnes per year.

Commenting on the milestone, Hempel's Global Product Manager, Henrik Dyrholm, explained that Hempaguard delivers up to six percent fuel savings, retaining its effectiveness during extended idle periods of up to 120 days.

"At Hempel, we pride ourselves on our investment in R&D and creating customer focused innovative products and services. Customer feedback has been unequivocally positive with shipowners realising significant returns on investment from Hempaguard," Dyrholm remarked.

Actiguard

A key feature of Hempaguard is Hempel's Actiguard technology, which combines a smooth silicone coating with the consistent release of limited biocides through a hydrogel layer.

The technology was five years in development and was launched in 2013 against a backdrop of tightening environmental regulations and an increasing push to reduce CO2 emissions.

Hempaguard X7 & X5

Hempel posits that if the entire world fleet was upgraded to use its Hempaguard X7 hull coatings solution, it would save the industry $12 billion in fuel costs, based on current bunker prices, and reduce global CO2 emissions by close to 95m tonnes annually.

The key benefits of using Hempaguard X7 are claimed to be:

- Six percent fuel savings compared with best-in-class antifoulings over the entire docking interval;

- 'Excellent' fouling resistance for idle periods of up to 120 days;

- 95 percent less biocide than traditional antifoulings;

- Vessels complying with a full Hempaguard X7 specification are offered a performance satisfaction guarantee.

Hempel lists the main features of its Hempaguard X5 fouling control coating as being:

- Efficient fouling prevention during the entire service interval for up to 36 months for any type of vessel with any trading pattern;

- Based on Hempel's patented Actiguard low-friction fusion technology;

- Combines the best from the hydrogel silicone and biocidal antifoulings;

- Documented performance and a long track record;

- Guaranteed fouling resistance for up to 60 idle days.