Finnish Border Guard PV to Feature Cathelco’s Box Cooler AF Systems

A new Finnish Border Guard patrol vessel will be installed with box cooler anti-fouling systems designed as the result of collaboration between Blokland Non-Ferro and Cathelco Ltd.

The 96 metre vessel is under construction at the STX Finland Oy’s Rauma shipyard with delivery scheduled for November 2013.

In addition to border safety and frontier supervision missions, the offshore patrol vessel can be used for search and rescue, military national defence purposes and other underwater assignments.

Blokland will be supplying 11 box cooler units for the patrol vessel which incorporate Cathelco anti-fouling systems to prevent the growth of barnacles and mussels which can impair the efficiency of the heat transfer process.

“The box cooler anti-fouling system has been successful in eliminating marine growth on ships operating around the world and we are particularly pleased that it has been specified for this technically advanced vessel”, said Bram Fase of Blokland.

The design consists of a copper anode, connected to a control panel, which is mounted horizontally beneath the cooling tubes of the box cooler. This ensures an even distribution of copper ions which prevent barnacle and mussel larvae from settling and growing on the tubes, eliminating the formation of marine growth which can prevent heat transfer. The unit also incorporates cathode plates which ensure an even wear pattern on the anode to maximise its longevity.

Since 2009, UK based Cathelco have worked in partnership with Blokland Non-Ferro, the Dutch manufacturers of box coolers to develop systems which overcome the problem of bio-fouling.

Cathelco are world leading manufacturers of seawater pipework anti-fouling systems with a record of over 30,000 installations on ships of every size. In the majority of cases anodes are mounted in seachests or strainers, but in recent years the company has extended its range to include specialised anodes for box coolers, miniaturised anodes that can be fitted within pipework and other types which are installed in electrolysis tanks for dosing purposes.

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Cathelco Ltd, November 19, 2012