Three Vessels Receive Ecospeed Coatings at Shipyards in China and Sweden

Three Vessels Receive Ecospeed Coatings at Shipyards in China and Sweden

Recently the rudders of two ferries and a container vessel were given an Ecospeed coating at shipyards in Shanghai and Jingjiang (China), and Landskrona (Sweden). The decision to use Ecospeed was made by the shipowners after cavitation damage had appeared on the rudders of their vessels.

Ecospeed will prevent similar damage from occurring again. The coating gives a very thorough and lasting defense against cavitation and corrosion damage for a ship hull’s entire service life. The coating equally provides the rudder (and/or the entire underwater hull) with an impenetrable protective layer while its flexibility enables absorption of the forces that are produced by cavitation. This prevents the damage normally caused by this phenomenon. Without proper protection against cavitation and the resulting erosion and corrosion damage, the financial consequences can be severe.

For this reason one of the owners also had Ecospeed applied on the thruster tunnel of his vessel. This area will be protected against the cavitation forces caused by the thruster’s propeller blades from now on.

The rudder of the ferry that was coated in Landskrona had to be removed to carry out mechanical repairs and this opportunity was taken by the Ecospeed applicators to perform the surface preparation and apply the first of two Ecospeed layers. After the rudder had been reinstalled the second layer was applied.

Two of these owners are returning customers for Ecospeed and so they had experienced firsthand the benefits of an Ecospeed coating. By removing the existing paint layers and applying Ecospeed on the rudder we can break the never-ending cycle of painting, suffering damage, having to perform extensive repairs in drydock followed by a full repainting, again and again.

With an Ecospeed application no repaint will be needed during drydocking. Ecospeed is guaranteed for ten years. At most, minor touch-ups will be needed. Planning the maintenance of the vessel’s stern area therefore becomes much easier. The smoothness attained by the coating also provides optimum hydrodynamic conditions for rudders to operate at maximum efficiency.

[mappress]

Shipbuilding Tribune Staff, March 11, 2012; Images: hydrex