Multi-purpose survey vessel coated with Ecospeed in Poland

The “IMOR” before the coating procedure on drydock

In November Ecospeed was applied on the hull of the multi-purpose research vessel Imor in Gdańsk, Poland. The  32, 5-meter catamaran is owned by the Maritime Institute in Gdańsk and was designed to perform a range of tasks such as oceanographic measurements, hydrographic or geophysical operations and bottom inspection. Due to the nature of these tasks, the ecological benefits Ecospeed offers were very important in deciding on the coating.

The Maritime Institute in Gdańsk is a research and development unit supervised by the Ministry of Maritime Economy. For over fifty years the Institute has been closely associated with maritime economy. The Institute conducts research work, scientific and implementation projects, studies and assessments. The mission of the Maritime Institute is to take care and preserve the values of the sea and sustainable development of the Polish maritime economy.[1]

The hull after the application

The r/v Imor was built in 2005 as a multi-purpose shallow water survey and ROV support vessel. She can be easily re-configured according to the requirements. The small size, small draught, high relative power and great flexibility of possible applications makes her ideal for work in shallow waters.

She is mainly used for operations in the Baltic and North Sea area. The current activities of the vessel include the creation of an inventory of marine mineral resources and investigations concerning the impact of economy on marine environment and ecosystems.

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A 100% non-toxic underwater hull coating

Ecospeed ties in perfectly with the ecological ideas of the Maritime Institute. The coating offers a TBT-free, copper-free, biocide-free and silicone oil free solution for the protection of the underwater hull. The Ecospeed hull protection and performance system is today’s Best Available Technology for reduction of fuel consumption, GHG and other emissions through hull hydrodynamics and fouling control.

In 2008, stringent tests were carried out within the framework of an EU LIFE demonstration project to provide scientific data and to authenticate the non-toxicity of the Ecospeed hull performance technology. This research proved that the coating is 100% free of toxic substances  and that there is no negative effect on the water quality or the marine environment at any point of its application or use. Moreover, the massive amounts of VOC and zinc anode emission associated with conventional hull coating systems are reduced to almost zero.

The aft port side and propeller

Preventing the spread of Non-Indigenous Species

Over the last several years there have been concerns that non-indigenous species (NIS) are transported by fouled hulls just as much or even more than in ballast water. Once a hull becomes heavily fouled, a situation occurs where there is an increased risk of transporting NIS that needs to be remedied by defouling activities, either by out-of-water removal or by underwater cleaning. In this respect, underwater cleaning has come under some scrutiny out of fear that viable NIS are released and spread, rather than contained and disposed of by the operation. Several ports and countries have banned underwater cleaning out of concerns about pulse release of biocides and/or an increased risk of transferring NIS. Taking into account the delicate ecological research r/v Imor is used for, this is an especially important issue for the researchers.

The hull coating completed before the vessel gets into water…

The underwater cleaning of Ecospeed can be regarded as a safe measure that prevents, rather than remedies, the spread of NIS. Firstly, Ecospeed can be cleaned on a regular basis without damaging the coating’s surface. The cleaning interval is optimized to minimize fouling and the associated increase in fuel consumption. In other words, regular cleaning prevents macrofouling from building up and at the same time presents an opportunity to inspect so-called niche areas. Secondly, Ecospeed is a very durable coating that withstands abrasive cleaning for which very effective specialized tools have been developed. As a result, many of the fouling organisms will be destroyed during cleaning. As long as only microfouling or locally acquired macrofouling is cleaned off the hull and niche areas, the risk of translocation of NIS via hull fouling is minimal. Standard use of Ecospeed is the key to resolving the hull-borne NIS issue.

the “IMOR” back into water following completion of Ecospeed coating application

Summary
The use of an environmentally safe underwater ship hull coating was essential in fulfilling the ecological goals of the Maritime Institute. Ecospeed offers a perfect lasting solution for any individual or company that takes its environmental responsibility seriously.