Feature 4 | PAINTS AND COATINGS


Hempel gears up for extended drydocking intervals


With more classification societies giving the green light to extended drydocking intervals of 7.5 years Hempel has developed a new coating solution to match.


H empel’s latest antifouling


coating, called Dynamic, was launched last August, and


is configured to offer a high level of performance over a 90 month period. As such Dynamic is specifically aimed at customers opting for extended dry docking intervals. Tis new coating is based on advanced


silylated acrylate technology, making this product Hempel’s top performing antifouling solution. It is also the one that offers the highest fuel savings, the company says. The reinforcement of Dynamic with


microfibres provides superior mechanical properties to other products on the market, Hempel claims, while the silyl acrylate binder provides a highly stable and predictable polishing rate for the overall service time of the coating. The ‘exceptionally good’ film forming characteristics of Dynamic combined with a self- smoothing effect of the silyl acrylate binder leads to lower friction with the water resulting in higher fuel-savings. Other benefits highlighted include a


very high volume solids overall, allowing Dynamic to be applied to a thickness of 175microns, reducing the number of coats required, saving time and costs at drydocking. Te coating combines a good polishing profile with very low leached layers and Hempel claims Dynamic has a much higher anti-fouling performance index compared with equivalent products offered by competitors. Other recent product development work


by Hempel has centred on reducing the cost of making the transition to foul release systems. In this context the company claims considerable success with Nexus X-Seal and, to some extent, Nexus X-Tend. Nexus X-Seal is an epoxy polysiloxane-


based coating that makes it possible to apply fouling release on top of an existing


40


The hull of the containership Carsten Maersk being coated with Hempel’s latest antifouling, Dynamic.


antifouling coating without fully blasting the hull. Moreover, it requires only one coat to link the old antifouling system to the Hempasil X3 topcoat, compared to two coats in more standard solutions. Hempel estimates that the one-coat Nexus X-Seal solution could save up to 5% in drydocking expenses when applying a fouling release coating on top of an existing antifouling coating, corresponding to almost US$400,000 or up to two days compared to a full blasting solution. Hempel’s new tie-coat Nexus X-Tend


is designed to simplify procedures and provide optimal results for fouling release re-dockings. It lasts five years and, when combined with Hempasil X3, is designed to provide significant fuel savings, and reduce time spent in dock with between half a day and a full day. Tis can help shipping companies save up to US$100,000 in dock rental fees, surface


preparation, and vessel inactivity, the company suggests. According to company spokesman,


Malte Eggers: “Nexus X-Tend eases the process of painting over old silicone coating, making Hempasil X3 as simple to apply as a conventional anti-fouling coating. It is a more efficient procedure for repair and touch-up areas, and it has a very good adhesion to old fouling release systems. It contains fewer application steps in drydock as well.” There are those in the industry who


argue that many fouling release products still have room for improving their performance on vessels with lower sailing speeds or with long idle periods, especially in very fouling aggressive waters. Currently, the hydrogel silicone technology featured in Hempasil X3 is able to protect hulls down to 8knots and 50% sailing periods, Hempel points out. SCRT


Shiprepair and Conversion Technology 1st Quarter 2011


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