MONDAY, APRIL 1, 2024
Global shipping company Pacific Basin recently announced that it would be applying a sustainable, graphene-based propeller coating across its entire fleet.
The new decarbonization initiative will reportedly be the largest adoption of graphene-based propeller coatings in the dry bulk segment, showcasing Pacific Basin’s commitment to sustainability.
About the Project
According to a Pacific Basin, XGIT-Prop, developed by sustainable coatings company GIT Coatings, has the potential to improve vessel performance by up to 4%, also making it a highly effective solution to improve Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) and RightShip Greenhouse Gas ratings.
After a successful application process, followed by observing positive results on one of its Supramax dry bulk vessels, Pacific Basin has decided to use XGIT-Prop across 40 vessels scheduled for dry dock maintenance in 2024.
The new deal is meant to parallel efforts of industry counterparts like Stolt Tankers and Eastern Pacific Shipping, amongst many others.
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Global shipping company Pacific Basin recently announced that it would be applying a sustainable, graphene-based propeller coating across its entire fleet. |
"Since 2007, we have been coating our vessels' propellers with silicone paint to proactively maintain a smooth propeller surface and avoid the frequent need for polishing to recover lost performance. However, we have not been able to avoid edge damages to the silicone coating on the propellers, which requires the entire propeller coating to be stripped and reapplied at every docking,” said Sanjay Relan, the General Manager of Optimisation & Decarbonisation at Pacific Basin.
“By adopting XGIT-PROP hard coating for our entire fleet, we are taking a proactive step towards more sustainable practices. We hope to maintain a damage-free, smooth propeller surface and improve efficiency over longer periods. At a fleet-wide level, we anticipate significant reductions in both environmental impact and operational expenses."
XGIT-Prop is a biocide-free hard foul release coating, built to work in harsh conditions faced by propellers.The coating reportedly combines an adhesive primer with a hard foul release topcoat to keep the propeller's surface smooth over the drydocking cycle.
In a fuel efficiency study conducted by Stolt Tankers in 2022, it was shown that XGIT-Prop has the potential to reduce fuel consumption by up to 4%.
In addition to improved CII ratings, shipowners in the dry bulk sector have been utilizing XGIT-Prop's efficiency gains to improve their vessels' RightShip GHG ratings.
"Collaboration with Pacific Basin marks another important milestone in our growth. While we have established fleet supply agreements with many other shipping companies, Pacific Basin stands out as the largest to fully integrate XGIT-PROP across a fleet of dry bulk vessels,” said Maiko Arras, Director of Business Development at GIT Coatings.
“We're glad to see first movers selecting this innovative yet simple solution to drive the industry towards a sustainable future."
The fleet agreement between Pacific Basin and GIT Coatings is meant to highlight the shipping industry's shift towards sustainability. Faced with the need to meet environmental goals, reduce costs and maintain efficiency, ship owners who are open to change may find help in innovative solutions like graphene-based coatings offered by GIT.
Other GIT Operations
In April of last year, GIT signed a two-year agreement with Stolt Tankers to apply its graphene-based marine coating to ship propellers later this year.
According to the release, GIT’s XGIT-PROP is an eco-friendly product that reduces marine growth and improves propulsion efficiency while ensuring no harmful toxins or biocides are released into the ocean. Stolt was reportedly the first chemical tanker company to apply the coating to its fleet.
Previously, Stolt Tankers completed a trial of the GIT graphene propeller coating on the Stolt Acer in April 2022. The company noted a significant reduction in fuel consumption and subsequently applied the coating to five additional ships.
GIT added that it was expected that the coating will reduce biofouling impact and noise emissions from the company’s ships, helping to lower the impact to life below water while improving fuel efficiency. Stolt also reported that the application supported its decarbonization ambitions.
The two-year agreement, saw the XGIT-PROP graphene-based marine coating to the propellers of 25 Stolt Tankers ships during 2023.
Later, in July, GIT was chosen to supply its graphene-based, biocide-free propeller coating for global shipping management company Eastern Pacific Shipping's entire fleet.
GIT stated that they began working with EPS a year before this, and the shipping company then planned to apply XGIT-PROP to 15 vessels that are drydocking in 2023 and 2024.
Initially, EPS had reportedly applied XGIT-PROP to the propeller of an LPG tanker, QUEBEC. Since then, EPS stated that the vessel has seen improved performance and has maintained its Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) rating. According to the release, the success of the LPG tanker’s coating led EPS to expand on the adoption of this technology.
Finally, in November, ship repair and conversion yard Gibdock, located in Gibraltar on Spain’s south coast, announced that it had undergone a 30-day project with XGIT-Fuel, an antifouling coating from GIT.
According to a release from JLA Media, the project was conducted on a 229-meter-long bulk carrier, Donald M. James, owned by the Vulica Shipping Company.
John Taylor, operations director at Gibdock, stated that the company's coatings team “took the application of the patented coating formulation in stride.”
The XGIT-Fuel topcoat was reportedly applied to the ship’s vertical sides, with XGIT-Prop applied in three-layers to propeller after grit blasting. Gibdock was also reportedly able to demonstrate its efficiency in cooperating with the ship on short notice, following a change in plans from an originally scheduled drydock.
Tagged categories: Antifoulants; Business matters; Business operations; Carbon footprint; Coating Application; Coating Materials; Coating Materials; Coatings; Coatings Technology; Emissions; Environmental Controls; Environmental Protection; Graphene; Green coatings; Greenhouse gas; Marine; Marine Coatings; Oil and Gas; Paint application; Program/Project Management; Protective coatings; Ships and vessels; Sustainability; Tanks and vessels
