SANDEFJORD, Norway — Jotun is collaborating with Odfjell Drilling to provide a premium anti-fouling and topside coating solution for the advanced drilling platform Deepsea Stavanger. Deepsea Stavanger is a dual-derrick, dynamic-positioned (DP) semi-submersible set to work in demanding environmental conditions off the coast of South Africa for oil company Total. To ensure optimum operations and durability, both above and below the surface, Jotun is now applying the premium anti-fouling SeaQuantum Ultra S and topcoat Hardtop One, a unique polixiloxane coating, at the Semco Maritime yard near Bergen, Norway.

Odfjell Drilling faces a critical challenge in the undertaking of its new assignment. A combination of high fouling intensity and strong ocean currents has the potential to threaten the efficiency of operations. Heavy fouling on the rig hull will increase frictional drag and this, allied to the force of the currents against the rig walls, makes it harder to maintain the correct position. This creates a demand for greater thruster power.

Rising to the Challenge

“It became clear that Deepsea Stavanger required an anti-fouling tailored to deliver a clean hull, and optimal performance, in the most challenging environmental conditions,” said Lasse Isaksen, Global Concept Director – Offshore. “Biofouling is as big an issue for the offshore industry, particularly with DP vessels, as it is for shipping, and with our established expertise in this niche we were perfectly positioned to find the right solution for this advanced asset.

“Our in-house anti-fouling team examined the individual vessel requirements, operational parameters, localized fouling intensity, and in-depth metocean data to determine the best coating. SeaQuantum Ultra S will deliver the results Odfjell Drilling and all its stakeholders demand, protecting the rig for long-term, durable operations, while its fast polishing silyl acrylate composition ensures a clean hull and optimal maneuverability and performance.”

Unique Benefits

Moving above sea level, the rig topside will be coated with Jotun’s Hardtop One, which offers excellent gloss retention for outstanding protection in even the most intense sunlight and UV exposure. As a single component product, the coating is unique to the market, offering all the benefits of a two-component solution, but with increased simplicity, reduced waste and less environmental impact.

“Deepsea Stavanger is a state-of-the-art rig that will deliver market-leading performance for our globally respected client,” said Håkon Hernes Technical Superintendent Odfjell Drilling. “For the best results we needed the best solution, and Jotun, with its leadership in marine and protective coatings, proved to be the ideal partner.”

Hernes continued, “We have a commitment to our customers to provide outstanding service and the highest quality, whatever the demands, and we look for the same standards in our suppliers and their products. The innovative combination of solutions from Jotun, providing first-class protection and performance above and below the waves, shows they understand our needs and can help us tackle industry challenges. We’re delighted to have them onboard.”

Jotun and Odfjell Drilling have worked together for around 20 years, but this, according to Sales Engineer Rune Nautnes, who helped lead the collaboration from Jotun’s side, was one of the biggest single maintenance projects to date. “We always enjoy an excellent collaboration with Odfjell Drilling, and this was no exception,” he notes. “The team there provided first-class data of the operating environment the rig would face, and we used that, in combination with our segment understanding, to refine the ideal solution. This delivery, which consists of 19,000m2 of advanced anti-fouling, will help Deepsea Stavanger maintain optimal control and meet its demanding operational objectives.”