Low-friction coatings set to improve RightShip GHG rating

(Posted on 20/11/24)

RightShips’ EVDI methodology is familiar to most drybulk ship owners, with chartering customers leveraging the environmental rating in their due diligence processes. The methodology compares the theoretical CO2 emissions – sometimes known as greenhouse gases (GHG) - of a peer group of vessels across a similar size and type.

RightShip has published new guidelines for calculating EVDI focusing on the role of low-friction coatings. This empower ship owners to demonstrate the positive impact of low-friction coatings, like Hempel’s Hempaguard, without needing to conduct sea trials. With these guidelines, Hempel’s high-performance marine coating solution, Hempaguard, can now significantly improve the vessel’s EVDI and potentially GHG rating in RightShip’s platform, without needing to conduct sea trials.

Coating manufacturer, Hempel has been a key contributor to developing the guidelines. Together with engineering firm Hydrus, Hempel has introduced the framework for how to quantify the impact of low-friction coatings on ship performance and submitted the experimental results, evidence and calculations for a test vessel approved by an IACS class member.

With the new guidelines, ship owners can predict and verify the impact of low-friction coatings on the EVDI and subsequently on the RightShip GHG Rating without the need for sea trials.

The guidelines are based on principles developed by leading academic researchers and endorsed by the esteemed International Towing Tank Conference (ITTC).

Dr. Yigit Kemal Demirel, Hull Performance Solution Manager at Hempel A/S, and former professor and former member of the ITTC Resistance and Propulsion Committee, remarked, “We are proud to have contributed to the development of such impactful guidelines published by RightShip. My colleagues and I have been advocating for the precise modeling of low-friction coatings' effects on ship performance and their proper recognition. RightShip is pioneering this effort, and

am confident that ITTC and IACS will soon follow suit."

Hempel strongly believes that introducing the framework, which recognises and rewards the investment in energy efficiency technologies provides the right incentives for the drybulk ship owners and operators to further accelerate adoption of such solutions.

This recognition adds to the third-party validation of Hempel’s high-performing silicone hull coating, Hempaguard, which performance earlier in 2024 was validated by DNV.

“At Hempel, we’ve long recognised that Hempaguard leads the market in terms of performance and environmental impact, helping our customers reducing emissions while enhancing their bottom line. Now, these recognised benefits will be factored into RightShip’s GHG Ratings. This is a pivotal development for Hempel and the broader shipping and coatings industry, as it marks the first time that out-of-dock power savings from low-friction coatings are accounted into a design index, much like other energy efficiency devices.” – Stavros Sklavounos, Hull Performance Solution Manager.