ISO hull performance standard nears completion

Geir Axel Oftedahl, Jotun’s business development director, Hull Performance Solutions, managed the project on behalf of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and is clear about its importance.

“Poor hull and propeller performance is estimated to account for around 10% of the world fleet’s energy costs (US$30 billion). The standard gives customers’ peace of mind and we’re acknowledging that by refining our HPS High Performance guarantee,” he said.

HPS is Jotun’s market leading solution combining SeaQuantum X200 silyl methacrylate antifouling coating technology with a full suite of sensors to measure hull performance and speed loss.

Mr Oftedahl said: “Previously we used our own methodology as the basis for the guarantee, promising to refund customers the cost of the HPS upgrade if their vessel hulls failed to meet performance targets.”

“However, now that a universal standard is so close to publication, we will use it as the foundation for the guarantee, effectively leading the industry with the first ISO/DIS 19030 compliant performance promise.”

HPS, which launched to the market in 2011, has proved its efficacy in delivering long-term efficiency and performance gains. In March, Jotun released data for its the first ever five-year dry-docking of a vessel treated with the solution – Gearbulk’s Penguin Arrow – showing that it recorded a fuel saving of US$ 1.5million, cutting CO2 emissions by some 12,055 tonnes, across the 60-month period.

The ISO 19030 standard, which prescribes practical methods for measuring changes in ship-specific hull and propeller performance, has now been approved by the ISO’s Draft International Standard (DIS) ballot, with 93% of country representatives voting in its favour.

This resounding approval rate paves the way for final publication, with ISO 19030 expected to be publically available at the end of the third quarter of 2016.