Anti-fouling performance is
A case of mistaken identity: Smooth Sea 22 was not
the ship it claimed to be When Thai-flagged oil products tanker Smooth Sea 22 (IMO 9870991) suffered an explosion and a subsequent fire on 17th January, few realised that the event would expose a case of potential ship-identity fraud.
On January 24th the International Maritime Organization was reported to have declared the ship’s IMO number to be non- valid after it emerged that the ship that was masquerading as 2018-built ship was in fact built in 1986 and was suspected of previously being known as the 4,4821 gt Hai Zhou 168 (IMO 8514045), and before that as the Smooth Sea 28.
The oil products tanker was a total loss and the insured value of the vessel was put at $30m. The explosion occurred at a ship repair facility on the Mae Klong river, west of Bangkok, Thailand. The tanker was undergoing maintenance repairs at the time and the explosion apparently occurred during welding works. The explosion killed two, while five remain missing.
As long ago as March 2022 a UN Security Council panel had outlined in a report that the tanker was linked to a North Korean vessel identity-laundering scam. Details were first published in a C4ADS report.
The C4ADS publication identified a convoluted sequence of identity changes. The Subblic (IMO 8126082), recommended for designation by the UN Panel of Experts because it was responsible for numerous deliveries of fuel to North Korea, laundered its identity into the Hai Zhou 168 (IMO 8514045) in mid-2019. It was reported to be continuing to engage in sanctionable activity. Its disguise enabled it to operate openly, even in Taiwan’s waters. However, with the Subblic having become the Hai Zhou 168, that meant that if the Hai Zhou 168 wanted to continue sailing, which it did, it would have to become known as something else, with a different IMO number. Formerly known as the Smooth Sea 28, the Hai Zhou 168 decided to become the “newly built” Smooth Sea 22, said C4ADS.
The “2018-built” Smooth Sea 22 was reported as entered with Shipowners Club, but since it was apparently really the ex-Hai Zhou 168, and was in fact 37 years old rather than five years old, the validity of the insurance policy will surely become a matter of debate.
being enhanced The biocide, Selektope, is being introduced into marine antifouling coatings to enhance the performance of self-polishing co-polymer (SPC) marine coatings. I-Tech’s team of R&D scientists have been working on the technology for the last five years and say they have discovered new ways in which the first-of-its-kind biocide, Selektope can be introduced to marine antifouling coatings in combination with other biocides with little or no effect on formulation chemistry or performance.
The technology works by improving the dispersion of the active substance via adsorption to paint pigment particles. And the scientists say positive static test results have also provided proof of concept that Selektope can be used in silicone-based foul release coatings, a new application area for the technology.
Selektope is an organic, non-metal biocide that prevents hard fouling, repelling barnacle larvae from a coated surface. The controlled release of Selektope in SPC coatings has proved successful using traditional methods with multiple products commercialised to- date, however, I-Tech says its R&D efforts have focussed on further improving the controlled release of the technology and minimising any issues catalysed through the introduction of Selektope into a paint matrix.
“This work is significant for two reasons; enhancing the current use of Selektope in SPC coating types and, opening up new routes for us to explore the use of this novel technology in foul release coatings,” said Dr Markus Hoffmann, technical director at I-Tech.
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