Jotun launches integrated hull cleaning solution

The Hull Skating Solution (HSS) combines Jotun’s high performance antifouling and technical service, with proactive condition monitoring, inspection and proactive cleaning. The company is also offering a range of performance guarantees and service level agreements.

The HSS solution also 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.

The solution is intended to help ship operators combat early stages of fouling, significantly reduce fuel costs, CO2 emissions and the spread of invasive species. The solution has the potential to achieve CO2 emission reductions of 12.5% per year, on a typical vessel, based on reduced fuel consumption.

Robotic solution

One of the innovative aspects of the new anti-fouling solution is the integration of robotic technology designed for proactive cleaning. The Jotun HullSkater is carried aboard and can be deployed when a vessel is idled.

The HullSkater is propelled by wheels, each equipped with electric motors for propulsion and steering. The wheels are magnetic, ensuring adhesion to the hull. 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 can be operated from the operator’s control centre, as it is connected to the vessel via an umbilical. The HullSkater can be operated remotely from any location that enjoys 4G coverage. Inspection and proactive cleaning of a hull will normally take around 2 to 8 hours depending on size and condition. HullSkater can inspect a 10,000m2 hull in approximately two hours.

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.”

Kongsberg Maritime has acted as Jotun’s strategic partner on the HullSkater project since 2015, contributing to the technology and know-how including development of secure remote control, cloud-based data storage, battery technology, acoustics and composite materials. HullSkater also uses Kongsbergs global communications infrastructure and Kognifai cloud ecosystem.

Proven technology

The HullSkater itself has been operational for more than two years. The technology has successfully undergone extended tests on Kongsberg Maritime’s submerged steel test platform at Strandpromenaden. The full technical solution has been installed on two commercial vessels, running missions in 30+ ports all over the world. Jotun noted that a number of shipping partners, including Wallenius Wilhelmsen, Maersk and Berge Bulk have contributed to development and testing of the solution.

The solution has also been used in a port in the south of Spain for two months, running missions on over 20 vessels. The coming 12 months will be a final verification phase to extend the number of vessels and finalize the technology for large scale deployment.

“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,” concluded Oftedahl.