Feature 5 | PAINTS & COATINGS Intersleek 900 serves ferry well


Wightlink now have nearly two years of in-service experience on the performance of Intersleek 900 coating system on three of its ferries.


W


ith three vessels already coated and more specified for application this year, Wightlink


Ltd, a UK based ferry company, have firmly adopted International Paint’s unique, patented fluoropolymer foul release system, Intersleek 900 for use on its vessels. After comparing various in-service


performance results Wightlink selected International Marine Coatings Intersleek 900 to coat the vertical sides of FastCat Ryde, Our Lady Pamela and FastCat Shanklin at their respective drydocking in April, May and July 2007. Te product has since provided cost benefits, including


improved fuel consumption, reduced CO2 emissions and a reduced requirement for slipping. Wightlink has not taken any of the vessels out of service for cleaning since the coatings application. Prior to this the vessels needed slipping every two months. Wightlink technical superintendent,


Mark Parsons, said: “In conjunction with major engine overhauls on the FastCats Ryde and Shanklin, we have kept a close watch on the performance effect of Intersleek 900 and


The application of Intersleek 900 to Wightlink’s vessels has seen a reduction in downtime for cleaning, improved fuel consumption and reduced emmissions.


(Credit: Wightlink)


have identified a significant improvement in vessel efficiency. Te FastCats now run at a reduced engine rpm complemented by associated fuel savings.” Te 40m FastCat vessels originally built


by Kvaerner Fjelland Singapore in 1996 have two waterjet propulsors and a top speed of 34kts, while the smaller 29.5m Our Lady Pamela built by InCat in 1986 has twin screw propellers and a top speed of 29.4kts. Te vessels currently operate between Portmouth harbour and Ryde pier


head on the Isle of Wight. With more than 250 vessels coated,


Intersleek 900 represents a significant advance in foul release technology offering potential performance benefits over the more traditional silicone based systems. Te reduction in average hull roughness, combined with enhanced foul release capabilities and improved resistance to mechanical damage, means that all vessels operating above 10kts should be able to benefit from its foul release technology. SBI


Eco-friendly boat hull cleaning


SodaBlast Systems is one of the growing number of companies offering a more gentle environmentally friendly paint and fouling removal system.


paint and marine growth from GRP boat hulls without damaging the gelcoat, which forms the protective barrier to the underlying fibres. Due to the nature and solubility of the blasting medium the hull and surrounding area can be cleaned up aſter blasting using a simple water hose. Conventional GRP hull cleaning and


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paint stripping methods rely on scraping, sanding and hazardous chemicals. Scraping


odaBlasting uses a special formulation of non-toxic sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) to remove


off heavy accumulations of marine growth from a composite hull can easily result in gouging damage of the hull’s gelcoat. Sanding and blasting are very effective but destructive paint removal processes. Soda blasting is a newer alternative to these older more aggressive forms of paint and fouling removal. Properly done, soda blasting can save time and effort by removing paint build up and leaving the gelcoat in a good condition, therefore requiring minimal preparation before repainting. In this new process, a non-destructive


stream of air-driven, specially formulated baking soda, under high pressure, is first used to strip the antifouling paint and open any blisters in the gelcoat. Ten, to prepare the surface for repair and repainting, the affected area around the blister is feathered by a split-second, swirled ‘micro-blasting’. Tis finishes the surface in preparation for repair. Te entire process can be accomplished in 1/10 the time as traditional techniques, resulting in a properly prepared surface that is ready for blister repair and painting. SBI


Ship & Boat International March/April 2009


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