Euronav will apply Hempasil, Hempel's silicone fouling release system, to its two ultra-large crude carriers, the TI Asia and the TI Europe.
The 1,246 ft. tankers, which have a deadweight tonnage of more than 440,000 tons, will drydock for maintenance and survey later this year.
Hempel has worked closely with Euronav, an integrated tanker company which owns and manages a fleet of 36 crude oil tankers, to achieve this breakthrough, said a senior official.
The Hempasil specification is guaranteed for five years and has a potential lifetime of a further five years.
Hempasil is a silicone-based topcoat with outstanding adhesion properties thanks to Nexus tiecoat technology, which ensures a chemical bond between the epoxy anticorrosion layer and the silicone-based topcoat.
Hempel's own studies show that the reduced drag from Hempasil can deliver substantial
fuel savings compared with premium tin-free antifoulings.
The TI ASIA will drydock in Dubai where a full Hempasil system will be applied.
Source: TradeArabia News Service