Nippon applies low friction technology

(Posted on 21/06/19)

Following increased market demand for its low-friction hydrogel-containing hull coatings, Nippon Paint Marine (NPM) has now applied the revolutionary technology to its standard range of antifoulings to provide a cost-effective solution for reducing fuel consumption.

Hydrogel, already used in the company’s LF-Sea 150 HyB and A-LF-Sea range of hull coatings, has now been incorporated into its Ecoloflex SPC 200 range.

Ecoloflex SPC 200 LF has been specifically developed to provide the wider commercial shipping sector with a low-cost, low-friction hull coating with technology proven to significantly reduce hull friction and extend service intervals by up to 90-months.

The original Ecoloflex SPC 200 coating, the world’s first TBT-Free hydrolysing self-polishing antifouling (SPC), has been applied to more than 10,000 ships since 1990.

Niko Yamanoue, Deputy Managing Director, Nippon Paint Marine (Europe), said: “The new low-friction version of Ecoloflex has been developed with the coming global sulphur cap in mind. With the anticipated hike in fuel costs set to impact operations from next year, commercial shipowners will need an economical hull coating capable of helping towards reducing the fuel bill. By adding hydrogel technology to our established antifouling, shipowners can expect to achieve substantial fuel savings compared to regular SPC coatings.”

Nippon Paint Marine developed the novel coating technology following extensive research into the skin structure of tuna fish, which was found to contain a mechanism that repels water. The research led to the incorporation of hydrogel, a component that traps a microscopic layer of water on the coating’s surface, smoothing the water flow around the hull.

The company first applied the technology to its LF-Sea 150 HyB product, introduced in 2007, and then further developed the technology with A-LF-Sea, launched in 2013.

Since the market introduction of hydrogel-containing coatings, ships using NPM’s premium A-LF Sea product have achieved fuel savings of up to 10%, while the 3,000-plus ships that have applied LF-Sea 150 HyB have benefitted from about a 4% reduction in fuel consumption, compared to traditional SPC-type coatings.

“We have amassed more than ten-years of data from vessels operating hydrogel-based coatings to verify the fuel savings and extended service intervals use of these coatings can achieve,” said Yamanoue. “Hull performance monitoring has shown that our low-friction technology is providing a real payback for customers compared to other systems.”

While the premium A-LF-Sea product is currently the containership, LNGC and cruiseship sectors’ coating of choice, Ecoloflex SPC 200 LF is expected to find favour with tanker and bulk carrier operators.

John Drew, Director, Nippon Paint Marine (Europe), said: “For most tankers and bulk carriers these systems with advanced technology incorporated into a competitive, high-solid (62% SVR) SPC antifouling system will prove a highly effective, commercially-viable way of reducing operational costs and the environmental footprint.”

Latest News

Rollout of CMT test kits increase as bulk shipmanagers look to reduce costs

CM Technologies (CMT) has supplied its integrated onboard fuel/oil testing and analysis kits to a fleet... Read more

Superior’s TeleStacker conveyor evolution continues to improve plant and port performance

Superior Industries, Inc., a U.S.-based manufacturer and global supplier of bulk material processing... Read more

Repositioned for the Future: NDE Readymix’s E-Crane Transformation

NDE Readymix Concrete Ltd., established in 2009, is the largest non-cement ready-mix concrete producer... Read more

Hazira Port crane success for Steelpaint’s new Stelcatec-L repair coat solution

German corrosion protection specialist Steelpaint has successfully completed a technical field trial... Read more

Veson Platform a new foundation for maritime trade

Veson Nautical has announced the Veson Platform, a unified, AI-powered experience that brings together... Read more

ABB to acquire Høglund to expand marine automation offering

ABB has announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire marine automation specialist Hø... Read more

NAVTOR sets new standards with Digital Logbook ‘industry firsts’

NAVTOR has unveiled the latest iteration of its Digital Logbooks offering, featuring the industry&rsquo... Read more

Industry warned battery fire awareness must catch up with changing onboard risks

The maritime industry is facing a rapidly changing fire risk on board vessels as electric vehicles and... Read more

Smart Ship Hub launches one of industry's lowest-cost vessel data loggers

Smart Ship Hub (SSH), the maritime intelligence and data collection platform, has launched one of the... Read more

75 Years young: Verstegen celebrates three quarters of a century of excellence

World leading manufacturer of rope operated mechanical grabs for the dry bulk industry, Verstegen Grijpers... Read more