Fouling during outfitting drives Selektope demand

With global ‘biofouling hotspots’ in subtropical/tropical areas intensifying, so is the exposure to newbuilds from hard fouling during the outfitting process.

“Our product is boosting the performance of sophisticated antifouling systems under harsh fouling conditions, such as those experienced during outfitting at shipyards in South Korea,” said Philip Chaabane, CEO I-TECH AB. “Selektope is clearly adding value to the coatings products that the major coating manufacturers offer.”

Biofoul prevention

Hempel brought its new GLOBIC 9500S antifouling coating, which specifically targets hard biofouling prevention during outfitting, to the market in late 2017.

GLOBIC 9500S includes the unique antifouling ingredient Selektope, which is an organic, non-metal compound that repels barnacle settlement on ships’ hulls by temporarily stimulating the barnacle larvae’s swimming behaviour.

Selektope gets characterised by high efficacy at extremely low concentrations (0.1% w/w), is ultra-low leaching and offer paint manufacturers the flexibility to boost copper-based paint formulations or replace copper completely. Because of the low concentration required, Selektope does not compromise the chemical structure, colour or other cooperative biocides of a marine coating.

To-date, several products have been launched onto the market and the number of Selektope containing coatings being sold by different manufacturers is on the increase.

I-Tech AB, the Swedish biotechnology company behind the development of Selektope, recently responded to strong market demand for the antifouling ingredient in South Korea by appointing KhaiEL as Selektope’s exclusive importer and agent.