Protection and flexibility in just three coats

Fouling negatively impacts fuel consumption and with the considerable variation in trading patterns undertaken by cruise ships, it is crucial for operators to select a hull coating that retains peak protection in all conditions.

Once marine organisms attach to a vessel’s hull, the extra drag created requires more power to move the ship through the water and this significantly increases fuel consumption and associated CO₂ emissions.

One leading cruise ship operator, for example, has estimated that hull fouling can add $5m in fuel costs over the five-year docking interval due to increased resistance as the vessel moves through the water.

So, put simply, investing in a high-performance hull coating from the outset is the best way to protect a vessel, minimise fuel consumption, maximise efficiency savings and reduce the environmental footprint.

Hempel, the worldwide coatings manufacturer, with over 100 years’ experience in marine coatings has invested heavily in R&D to develop solutions that meet the needs of its global cruise ship customers. With this in mind, we have recently launched its most advanced coating system to date – Hempaguard MaX.

A complete solution

Hempaguard MaX was developed to deliver three crucial operational benefits; a high level of protection against fouling in all marine environments; reduced fuel consumption; and the ability to slow steam or even idle for extended periods (of up to 120 days). These benefits significantly widen the operational and geographical bounds available to cruise vessel owners and gives them freedom to adapt to changing market conditions. 

The solution is a unique three-coat system that delivers up to 8% out of dock fuel savings compared to a traditional self-polishing antifouling and gives a guaranteed maximum speed loss* of 1.2% over five years (according to ISO 19030).

Hempaguard Max’s ease of application, as well as the fact that it is a three-coat product rather than the traditional fouling-defence five coat system. This means less time is spent in dry dock and on the applying the paint itself, this results in a significant saving of both time and money. 

The three coats that comprise the system include a base coat/primer Hempaprime 900, tie coat Nexus II and finally topcoat Hempaguard X8. Together these layers interact to provide an advanced level of protection that significantly improves hull smoothness, operational flexibility and ensures that vessels can operate in all environments and at all speeds.

Topcoat Hempaguard X8 incorporates Hempel’s patented Actiguard technology. This ground-breaking technology works by forming a biocide-activated hydrogel on the surface of the fouling defence coating. The hydrogel effectively traps the biocide and concentrates it at the surface of the coating where it is most effective. This prolongs the retention time of biocide and reduces the amount required by around 95 per cent.

Hull coatings might not always be top-of-mind for shipowners when considering ways to reduce costs, but in a market racked with uncertainty, an effective, flexible paint that is both easy-to-apply and long lasting is always a wise investment.  

Hempaguard MaX at a glance:

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^*Speed loss: If a vessel’s main engine is set at a certain power output, it will propel the ship through the water at a certain speed. Over time, fouling accumulation will increase drag and cause the speed of the ship to reduce even if the main engine power output remains constant. This reduction in speed is termed “speed loss”.