James Fisher (Shipping services) Ltd undertook to apply
International Paints innovative underwater coating system
Intersleek 900 while their vessel Galway Fisher was under refit at A&P Falmouth Limited in May 2007. The paint system is based on a fluoropolymer foul release technology, providing a very smooth surface which has the dual effect of reducing hull friction and making it very difficult for fouling organisms to adhere to the surface.
The work carried out was a full blast to WJ1 standard of the underwater area totaling
some 2150m2 using a combination of in house and the Doornbos dockmaster UHP water
blast equipment, followed by application the four coat paint system. After completion of the
primer coating the remaining three coats are subject to strict overcoating times, hence
careful planning is needed to ensure these are not exceeded. The final three coats were
successfully applied in a 48 hour period and the vessel undocked after the required
immersion time.