Stolt Tankers trials in-transit hull cleaning

Shipshave’s ITCH performs hull cleaning while the vessel is sailing to prevent the early-stage growth of hull biofouling. Shipshave ITCH consists of a semi-autonomous hull cleaning robot tethered to a winch on the forecastle deck. The robot harvests propulsion energy to stay attached to the hull and swipe up and down. Soft brushes clean the hull under water using a defined pattern with controlled brush forces. An integrated video camera can be used to document the robots cleaning performance.

The company says the system should be used before fouling becomes a real problem. It has however also proven to remove settled fouling.

DNV has performed a consumption assessment calculation and found that Shipshave’s technology can deliver fuel savings of around 10% when used regularly. The crew of the Stolt Acer also reported that the device was easy to use, clean and maintain.

Energy and Conservation Manager at Stolt Tankers, Jose Gonzalez Celis, said: “The results of the initial trial were very positive. We saw a reduction of fuel consumption during the voyage, and this when combined with some of the other technological developments we are investigating will have a significant impact on our overall fuel consumption.”