MSC to Use Jotun's Hull Skating Solutions

Jotun has secured its first commercial contract for container ships under the groundbreaking Jotun Hull Skating Solutions (HSS) programme (Hull Skating Solutions). The contract was signed with Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), a global container shipping and logistics firm. MSC, a company committed to investing in decarbonizing its operations, will install Jotun HullSkater, the first robotic technology designed for proactive cleaning, and specially developed high-performance SeaQuantum Skate antifouling as part of Hull Skating Solutions on the 14,000 TEU MSC EVA within this year. The solution will subsequently work to provide an "always clean" hull maintaining optimal efficiency, reduced fuel costs and significantly lower CO₂ emissions without biofouling.

Proactive Approach

Jotun launched HSS to market this March. Designed to help ship owners address their most serious biofouling challenges, this product combines antifouling paint and robotic proactive cleaning technology fitted on selected vessels with proactive condition monitoring, high-level technical service and performance and service level guarantees. Jotun operators control HullSkater via a 4G connection, performing cleaning and inspections in line with individual vessel programmes developed using proprietary algorithms and big data. This is a unique proactive cleaning solution delivering unique results, as explained by Alberto Genovesi, Global Key Account Manager, Jotun Performance Coatings Marine. The technology immediately addressed MSC's desire to invest in game-changing innovative technology.

Win-Win for the Industry

Genovesi comments, "MSC is not only a market leader but also a pioneer in seeking innovative new solutions to meet IMO's goals for decarbonizing shipping," and adds, "We have worked with them for many years providing first-class antifouling coatings to their advanced fleets, and we knew HSS would be aligned with their objectives to deliver both improved environmental performance and enhanced efficiency and cost control for business partners. HSS is clearly a win-win in this regard." MSC EVA will have HSS installed in late 2020 at GWD Guangzhou Shipyard in China and will also undergo class renewal and scrubber installation. The vessel's flexible sailing pattern exposed to different water temperatures and environments leads to serious biofouling problems. Jotun believes that if all vessels facing such challenges adopt the HSS proactive approach—cleaning hulls before biofouling develops and thus eliminating associated drag and fuel consumption—shipping CO₂ emissions could be reduced by at least 40 million tonnes per year.

Sustainable Vision

Giuseppe Gargiulo, President of Newbuildings at Mediterranean Shipping Company, said, "We are absolutely aware that the shipping industry needs to adopt innovative solutions to meet its ambitious environmental targets," and added, "We believe HSS will help address the biofouling problem, which means significant benefits through reduced emissions and less spread of invasive species for the natural world and better results for our business, our customers and our society. This is the embodiment of what we are trying to achieve at MSC. Clean vessels are only one piece of the puzzle when it comes to delivering a more sustainable shipping industry, but they are nonetheless a central one. MSC is determined to seek out and trial new scalable solutions to minimize overall environmental impact for both our business and the shipping industry as a whole." HSS was developed over several years and brought to market by Jotun in collaboration with KONGSBERG. Extensive testing is underway on vessels in partnership with leading shipowners (such as MSC) and at selected ports worldwide. What is common to MSC and all partners is their focus on their global footprint and development towards a sustainable future. Jotun HullSkater uses magnetic wheels to adhere to ship hulls, working to clean individual bacteria and biofilm before macro biofouling growth occurs. At such an early stage, fouling can be removed without risk of damage or wear to the coating or brushes. This not only provides the highest performance and unlimited idle days for ship owners, but also minimizes the need for reactive cleaning, reduces costs, environmental risk and optimizes fleet flexibility.