SANDEFJORD, Norway/BUSAN, South Korea — Shipbuilding company Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), which controls about 10% of the global new-build market, has reached an agreement with containers carrier HMM Co. Ltd. and marine coatings supplier Jotun to use Jotun’s Hull Skating Solutions (HSS) on a series of new builds. The agreement will use Jotun HullSkater to inspect and clean vessel hulls during outfitting.

Unique Solution

Launched earlier this year, HSS consists of the HullSkater, which adheres to vessels and gently removes all bio-fouling from the hull, the specially developed SeaQuantum Skate antifouling, and condition monitoring technology that uses a proprietary big-data algorithm tailored to individual vessel needs.

“The combination is ideally suited to vessels facing the most challenging bio-fouling conditions,” said Geir Axel Oftedahl, Business Development Director, Jotun. “In that respect it is perfect for protecting new-builds at outfitting and trial stages.”

“HSS cleans hulls before bio-fouling takes hold, eliminating associated drag and fuel consumption and emissions, while protecting the vessel coatings and safeguarding ecosystems from the potentially invasive species that look to populate them. Bio-fouling is a particular problem when vessels are idle for long periods, such as during outfitting, and this can cause major issues when trialing initial performance before delivery.”

HHI is currently building a series of 16,000 TEU container ships for HMM. HSS will be deployed to ensure the ships meet environmental key performance indicators, maintaining clean hulls and pristine coatings. The HullSkater will move from hull to hull during key outfitting stages.

Speaking of the decision to enter the agreement, Jong-Chul Choi, Executive Vice President, HMM, said, “HMM is committed to building a fleet that is defined by sustainable innovation, enabling us to hit our ambitious target of achieving zero CO₂ emissions by 2050. We aim to be proactive in identifying, adopting and developing the best solutions, and Jotun’s approach to hull cleaning is the perfect fit for that strategy. We look forward to seeing the results of HSS and welcoming the latest additions to our environmentally friendly fleet into operation.”