When it comes to removing old paint from a ship’s hull, the archaic and conventional way is to erect a scaffold from which a bunch of guys blast garnet grit propelled by compressed air. This was inevitably despicable, morally reprehensible and quite a dangerous task as the workers risk falling off the scaffolding and the process spews out toxic dust downwind.
To facilitate the workers safety concerns and the environmental issues, some shipyards have considered implementing the use of UHP (Ultra High Power) water jets via manual blasters for stripping, which again proved to be labor intensive and extremely time consuming.
ENVIROBOT
After many years of research, development and field-testing, Chariot Robotics introduced the ENVIROBOT® patented robotic technology that enables shipyards to remove coatings faster, safer and more cost-effectively than possible with traditional grit blasting while allowing other trades to simultaneously perform other maintenance procedures.
With Chariot Robotics technology, the ship is returned to productive service more quickly, creating increased revenue-generating opportunities for the ship owner. Maintenance is performed more cost-effectively and under more environmentally favorable conditions for the shipyard.
[mappress]
Source: chariotrobotics, June 30, 2011; Image: rec.ri