Source: International Shipping News 25/04/2019
HullWiper Ltd has signed a hull cleaning frame agreement with Equinor ASA for its fleet of oil and gas tankers operating in Scandinavia, Far East, Middle East and Europe.
HullWiper is a global service provider of cost-efficient, safe and eco-friendly hull cleaning solutions which boost vessel efficiency and fuel savings to reduce CO2 emissions, whilst protecting vessel hull coatings and the delicate marine ecosystem. Its Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) system uses adjustable seawater jets under variable pressure to remove fouling, instead of brushes or abrasives, minimising the risk of damage to expensive anti-fouling coatings. No divers are used, so there is no risk to human life and cleaning can be conducted day or night, in most weather conditions, and whilst cargo operations are underway. Removed residues are collected by an onboard filter and deposited into dedicated drums onshore for locally-approved environmental disposal. The filter also reduces the risk of cross-pollination of waters with alien species.
HullWiper’s Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) gears up to clean vessel hull.
Simon Doran, HullWiper’s Managing Director says the partnership with Equinor reflects his company’s commitment to proving the global shipping community with innovative, eco-friendly solutions at a time of increasing regulation. “We help ship owners and operators to act proactively to comply with ever more stringent rules and regulations governing the entry of vessels into ports and operations offshore.”
Just over five years since its launch in Dubai in late 2013, HullWiper now operates from ports in Sweden, Singapore, Spain, Denmark, Norway, Egypt, Australia, Gibraltar and the UAE, as well as other key locations in the Middle East on an ad hoc basis. New operations in Panama and Mauritius are coming in the second quarter of 2019, with advanced discussions ongoing for other locations specifically.
WHAT EXPERTS FROM EUROSHORE SAY:
Euroshore supports regular hull cleaning in order to remove “biofouling” which can contribute significantly to fuel savings by reducing hull resistance. However, in some shipyard practices, biofouling is still considered harmless to the marine environment and is together with the high-pressure water directly released in the sea. Ideally, the water and biofouling residues should be captured, separated and treated in a proper way. The residues should be handled as potential hazardous waste.