Hulls
Fuel savings alone worth the investment
Most ships sail with a chartering contract that includes a penalty clause if fixed distance/fuel consumption ratios are not met. However, the distance/fuel ratio is unpredictable with regular paint systems and will also worsen over the years. This is due to wear-down, uneven build-up of paint layers, corrosion and other damage, along with marine fouling, which reduces the vessel's performance and increases fuel consumption. In this way the ship becomes more expensive to run and profits are reduced, in addition to losing its value due to an impaired hull. The protective Ecospeed coating keeps the ship's performance stable and protects the owner's investment. A fixed distance/fuel ratio can be determined in advance and penalties are therefore avoided.
Underwater hull cleaning improves ship hull performance
One of the many unique factors is that with repeated underwater hull cleaning, the coating's surface aspect does not degrade but gradually improves. It is carried out with specially designed underwater hull cleaning tools simultaneously cleaning as well as optimizing the smoothness of the paint surface. Regular underwater cleaning removing any marine fouling at a very early stage will maintain and improve the ideal surface characteristics benefiting the hydrodynamics of the vessel and this throughout the service life of the vessel. This procedure is made easy by the coating's technical properties. It can be carried out whenever needed, at any point in its lifespan, without causing damage.
Regular underwater cleaning of the coating results in improved hull smoothness each and every time the hull is cleaned. The coating will maintain its integrity all throughout its service life. Tests have shown that a very large number (+500) of repeated underwater hull cleanings improves its surface texture without any adverse effects. This will prevent any increase in fuel consumption over the years as would happen with traditional, active antifouling paints. The ship hull can be kept close to its most optimum hydrodynamic condition thereby producing major fuel savings.
More information on the benefits of underwater cleaning of Ecospeed can be found on this page.
