Jotun announces revolution in proactive hull cleaning with ground-breaking Hull Skating Solutions

Oslo/Sandefjord, 12 March 2020. Jotun, a world leading provider of marine coatings, today announces the launch of Hull Skating Solutions (HSS), a break-through in proactive cleaning, offering shipowners an always clean hull in the most challenging operations. 

Jotun has developed a revolutionary proactive cleaning solution for the most challenging operations. Jotun Hull Skating Solutions is offering high performance antifouling, proactive condition monitoring, inspection and proactive cleaning, high end technical service, and performance and service level guarantees. HSS is the first solution of its kind within the maritime industry. It provides individual proactive condition monitoring services tailored for each vessel, using a proprietary algorithm and big data to accurately predict fouling development and cleaning schedules.

With a comprehensive range of guarantees and service level agreements available, HSS solves the problem of biofouling once and for all, helping shipowners steer a more profitable and sustainable path into the future. If all ships in challenging operations converted to HSS, this would result in a CO₂ emissions reduction of at least 40 million tons per year.

A primary component of Jotun Hull Skating Solutions is the ground-breaking, onboard Jotun HullSkater, the first robotic technology that has been purposely designed for proactive cleaning. In combination with the premium SeaQuantum Skate antifouling and a set of services, the Jotun Hull Skating Solutions will help ship operators combat early stages of fouling, significantly reduce fuel costs, CO₂ emissions and the spread of invasive species.

The HullSkater

The HullSkater removes individual bacteria and biofilm before macro-fouling takes hold. This not only delivers peak performance, and unlimited idle days for shipowners, but minimizes the need for reactive cleaning, cutting costs, environmental risk and optimizing fleet flexibility. The HullSkater stays on the hull by the force of its magnetic wheels, each equipped with electric motors for propulsion and steering. The vehicle has several cameras and sensors, supporting the operator with data for navigation and documenting fouling on the ship hull. The specially designed motorized brush keeps the hull free from fouling without causing erosion or damage to the hull coating. The vehicle is connected to the operator’s control center through an umbilical and can be operated remotely for vessels anywhere in the world with 4G coverage. Inspection and proactive cleaning of a hull will normally take around 2 to 8 hours depending on size and condition.

Proactive prevention

“Bio-fouling is a big challenge for the shipping industry,” comments Geir Axel Oftedahl, Business Development Director in Jotun. “It increases frictional resistance leading to speed loss and greater fuel consumption, while at the same time increasing the risk of the transfer of aquatic invasive species. It is a burden to the industry, and our planet, and demands decisive action.”

“That was our starting point in the conception of HSS – a desire to create a definitive solution to this pressing issue, one that wouldn’t just deal with the problem, but rather prevent it. That is what hull skating achieves.”

Business critical

“We believe this is a landmark development for shipowners worldwide,” Oftedahl adds. “Vessels are often faced with unpredictable operations, with erratic idling periods and varied operational profiles that make the selection of antifouling problematic, even for the best coatings. And once fouling grows the impacts are immediate, and damaging, with poor hull and propeller performance accounting for around one tenth of the world fleet’s energy consumption. This can make a massive impact on any owner’s bottom line.

“So, make no mistake, proactive inspections, hull cleaning and management isn’t just an operational matter, it’s a business critical decision. As such, HSS is an essential business investment.”  The unique technology has been developed over several years, with comprehensive testing taking place on vessels and at selected ports. Jotun is now in the final verification stage and is currently recruiting new selected owners to be the first to benefit from this “game-changing” solution.  The shipping partners’ dedicated involvement and their input to requirements, design as well as providing vessels for piloting, have been key in the development and testing of the solution.

Partner’s involvement listed below.

For further information:

Siri Moldestad Sanna
Global Customer Engagement Manager
Mobile:+47 90 13 27 80
siri.sanna@jotun.no

Geir Axel Oftedahl
Business Development Director – Marine
Mobile: +47 90 18 04 64
geir.axel.oftedahl@jotun.no

Jotun
The Jotun Group is a matrix organisation divided into seven regions responsible for the sale of decorative paints and marine, protective and powder coatings. The company has 39 production facilities in 23 countries, 65 companies in 47 countries and is represented in more than 100 countries around the world. 

Partners involvement

KONGSBERG

KONGSBERG has many roles in the development of the HullSkater; technology development, robotics industrialisation and manufacturing, in addition to service and support of the HullSkater in operation. The offering benefits strongly from KONGSBERG’s 70 years of expertise in underwater technology and multiple autonomous underwater vehicles with advanced manoeuvring and navigation systems.

Semcon
Semcon have been part of the development of the HullSkater from the early start, contributing on design, analysis, software- and hardware development. With the long experience in developing innovative solutions together with their customers, Semcon’s expertise in both robotics and digital solutions have been an important part of the cross-functional team.

DNV GL
The main focus for DNV GL – Maritime Advisory has been on the risk management of the solution, covering equipment, installation and integration of the HullSkater into the vessel and operational aspects related to safety, environment and security.

Telenor
Telenor, Norway’s largest telecommunications provider, has provided an Internet of Things (IoT) solution over its mobile network for vessels using the HullSkater. Telenor’s global footprint enables solutions for protected and secure flow of data across borders.Shipping partners
The shipping partners includes Wallenius Wilhelmsen, Berge Bulk and Maersk – strong, reputed companies with a high level of expertise within shipping. Their input to requirements and design as well as providing vessels for piloting, have been key in the development and testing of the solution.