Hull performance monitoring for 42 ships

Wallenius Wilhelmsen will monitor the voyage performance of 42 ships by combining a digitalisation solution with antifouling coatings.

It will use Jotun’s Hull Performance Solutions (HPS) antifouling coating system on ships in its roro fleet.

HPS combines digital-based ship monitoring with SeaQuantum X200 antifouling coatings to accurately measure hull performance and reduce drag. The antifouling helps increase vessel efficiency, reduce fuel costs and cut CO₂ emissions from the fleet. This is measured through networks of sensors and data from bridge systems.

Wallenius Wilhelmsen senior vice president for marine operations Geir Fagerheim expects HPS to improve the efficiency of the roro fleet.

“As a company we are focused on enhancing sustainability and reducing the environmental impact of our operations – maintaining clean hulls is a key enabler for that,” he explained. “With HPS we can not only achieve this objective, but we also open a digital window onto how hull condition affects fleet-wide performance, efficiency and emissions, creating a culture of transparency and accountability.”

He said the partnership with Jotun will help build an increasingly sustainable shipping industry. “This kind of partnership is helping inform better decision making and creating new solutions for the future,” he said.

Jotun Marine Scandinavia business development manager Gunhild Tveitan thinks antifouling with performance monitoring will reduce the spread of invasive species across marine ecosystems and help shipowners achieve their environmental targets.

“Working together we will be able to optimise hull performance and help Wallenius Wilhelmsen fully comply with global regulations and targets, while meeting its own stringent environmental objectives,” he said.

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Jotun Marine Scandinavia regional sales director Ulf Skovli said Wallenius Wilhelmsen is leading by example as “a respected shipowner and operator that is known for its commitment to innovation, optimal operational standards and environmental care.”

Studies have suggested that the fuel consumption of the world fleet could be reduced by up to 20% if all vessels were kept fouling free.

Jotun’s HPS concept was introduced in 2011 and has now been applied to around 1,000 vessels worldwide.