Hull performance standard reaches draft stage

ISO’s Marine Environment Protection Sub-Committee voted to circulate a draft after more than two years’ work by 53 experts – among them ship owners, ship builders, class societies, paint manufacturers, performance monitoring companies and research institutions – to reach a consensus. The standard is now expected to be finalised next year.

The project was managed on behalf of ISO by Jotun Hull Performance Solutions business development director of Geir Axel Oftedahl, with Nordic Energy Research senior advisor Svend Søyland acting as convenor of the working group.

Oftedahl said: “Poor hull and propeller performance is currently estimated to account for around 10 per cent of world fleet’s energy costs and corresponding greenhouse gas emissions. By creating a standard, the industry will have access to proven ways to measure speed loss, leading to better decisions about hull coatings and propellers.

“We believe improving hull and propeller performance can reduce the world fleet’s fuel cost by as much as US$30 billion per year and achieve an estimated 0.3% reduction in man-made greenhouse gas emissions.”

The standard will accelerate industry-wide best practices and offer much needed transparency for buyers and sellers of a wide range of fuel saving technologies and services. “The standard will benefit responsible suppliers, owners and the environment,” Oftedahl added.

Jotun will update performance guarantees offered as a part of its Hull Performance Solutions so that they are fully compliant with the standard, the company said.