Hull Surface Treatment (HST) technology is a new environmentally friendly hull cleaning technology for treating the growth on a ship's hull.

It uses no chemicals, detergents or substances which are foreign or harmful to the marine environment. HST instantly kills growth which is then abraded in open seas.
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October 2011- After a recent in-water survey of a ship with new-age silicon based fouling release coating, it was discovered that there was significant fouling on the underwater area. The ship had come out of dry-dock in Singapore approximately one month before where the new paint system had been applied.

CLICK BELOW TO WATCH VIDEO OF ANOTHER FOULED SILICON HULL!

The growth in the photos below show fouling that had accumulated in the short time since coming out of dock. The ships crew stated that the ship consumed more fuel oil coming back to Australia after docking than it did on the way to Singapore prior to docking. The cost associated with removal of this bio-fouling was significant and could not be undertaken in any Australian Port of Harbour.

This scenario could have been avoided had HST been utilised while the ship was sitting alongside in Singapore. HST is the ideal pre-emptive strike, killing the growth before it matures and develops into hard tertiary fouling like tube worm and barnacles. Hull preventative maintenance ensures fuel savings, assists in the prevention of the onset of tertiary fouling, reduces the risk of bio-security, reduces carbon emissions and can increase the dry-docking intervals. If required, HST can be used to treat the flat bottom of ships.

Coatings alone can not and will not prevent fouling of hulls. The new-age coatings certainly have their place in reducing fouling especially on ships that are busy and travel at reasonable speeds. These fouling release coatings are also more suitable to the environment as they contain no copper biocides, the main active ingredient in normal SPC coatings. The perception is that silicon based coatings are a magic wand that will make all the fouling issues go away but as demonstrated in the photos, this is not the case.

The ‘ship cruise profile’ in conjunction with responsible in-water hull maintenance/sterilisation is the most efficient, cost effective, environmentally sensible approach to bio-fouling management. Hull Surface Treatment (HST) technology should have been deployed within 10 days of the ship re-entering the water. Applied whilst sitting alongside in Singapore, HST is the perfect pre-emptive means by which the newly painted hull would have been maintained in ‘as new’ condition...arriving in Australia with a clean smooth hull.

All technologies that contribute to and assist the maritime industry in becoming more efficient by reducing costs and decreasing the impact on the environment are worth considering.