The ISO 19030 standard is changing the way the coatings sector operates, and delivering potentially huge savings for shipowners in the process
The ISO 19030 standard consolidates the latest academic and industry knowledge regarding a standardised method to measure the performance of a vessel through the water. As a global standard, ship owners and other interested stakeholders can now apply this for measuring hull performance of their vessels. So says AkzoNobel, the paints and coatings company which was heavily involved in the formation of the ISO 19030 standard.
Commenting on the value of the standard, AkzoNobel marine coatings business channel manager Michael Hindmarsh said: “The standard was originally developed to try and harmonise the way ship performance is monitored. It draws a very good line in the sand. But it is just a start, and already people are talking about making it more accurate and improving it.”
One area where there is scope for improvement is in measuring hull and propeller performance – currently the standard does not differentiate between the two. “There is work to be done in developing methodologies to split the effect of just the propeller or just the hull. That is just the kind of work that we would be involved in,” said Mr Hindmarsh.
“It is in the interest for everyone to develop the methods to separate out the effects of hull or propeller, as it will reduce costs and save time”
As well as helping to further understand the fuel performance of vessels, such a differentiation would save time and money in investigating what is specifically affecting hull performance. “We sometimes get customers saying that their fuel performance is not as good as usual, and they want us to check if the coating is the problem. We will inspect the vessel and often find the problem is not the coating. Therefore, it is in the interest for everyone to develop the methods to separate out the effects of hull or propeller, as it will reduce costs and save time,” said Mr Hindmarsh.
Big data
AkzoNobel sees a huge opportunity in applying big data to fouling control coating selection and using the ISO 19030 standard to prove the benefits. To this end, it launched its Intertrac Vision system in 2015; this is a predictive tool designed to help ship operators assess the return on investment resulting from a particular coating specification.
The iPad-based system processes individual vessel data and operational parameters that trained IP personnel enter during a free consultation. Multiple proprietary algorithms and models are then used to provide an accurate assessment of the impact of each potential fouling control coating choice over a ship’s specified in-service period. Outputs include a vessel’s powering requirement, fuel consumption, fuel cost, CO2 emission predictions and a full cost-benefit analysis, comparing different coating options and surface preparation options.
In May 2017 at Nor Shipping, AkzoNobel launched Digital Voyage, a complimentary suite of digital tools that includes Intertrac Perform, a tool that measures and monitors hull-performance data and validates these against the predictions made by Intertrac Vision, using metrics that comply with the ISO 19030 standard on hull- and propeller-performance monitoring.
Part of Digital Voyage, Intertrac Vision Lite has been developed to showcase key features of the full Intertrac Vision tool. Users can input data covering a sample selection of vessel types, fouling routes and generic hull-coating choices to create different coating scenarios. They can then compare variations in the effect on power requirements, fuel costs, and CO2 emissions. The solution also includes tips and commentary to explain the methodology that underpins Intertrac Vision, which includes the full range of parameters and can be used to make economic and environmental decisions.
Coating supplier Hempel was also involved in developing the ISO 19030 standard and its new hull performance system SHAPE (Systems for Hull And Propeller Efficiency) is based on the ISO 19030 framework.
Hempel group segment manager for marine and drydock Andreas Glud explained: “SHAPE combines elements of hull and propeller efficiency optimisation to maximise the performance data. Analysis of this data allows Hempel to provide expert advice on the optimum paint solution to all container-ship operators. The aim is to maximise vessel efficiency and further enhance return on investment.”
He pointed out that fouling and mechanical damage to the hull will increase the power required from a ship’s engine to maintain a defined speed, which can be as much as 20%. SHAPE monitors long-term trends using in-service key performance indicators (KPI) to analyse the impact of drydocking and to assess the impact of in-service hull and propeller solutions and associated maintenance on actual performance. “This enables shipowners to make data-driven decisions to improve their operational efficiency,” said Mr Glud.
“The fight against fouling has developed significantly in recent years and leading manufacturers are evolving into advisors and solutions providers, alongside their more traditional role of simply supplying paint”
Specifically designed on the principles defined by ISO 19030, SHAPE can also monitor short-term trends through maintenance-trigger KPIs. The KPIs are based on speed-loss measurements to track performance gains over time. Monitored and guaranteed speed loss – directly related to fuel savings – is also applicable for hull coatings specified for up to 60-month drydocking intervals. In addition, transparent cost-effective performance monitoring following the ISO 19030 methodology is available.
Mr Glud also noted another trend in the industry: “The fight against fouling has developed significantly in recent years and leading manufacturers are evolving into advisors and solutions providers, alongside their more traditional role of simply supplying paint.”
Drivers and challenges
The standard is moving in the right direction, according to Jotun Hull Performance Solutions (HPS) global concept director Stein Kjølberg.
“More coatings suppliers are using the standard to measure the performance of their coatings, as we have done with HPS. We also see that certain projects have started to specify requirements on speed loss according to the ISO standard.”
He added that vessel charterers were now more interested in performance monitoring and were helping to drive this market. “We have seen charterers really see importance of coatings,” he said. “Increasingly, they are going back to tonnage providers to request coating upgrades in contracts.”
However, there have been challenges in the uptake of the standard. Mr Kjølberg said “One challenge is that many companies have established their own way of performance monitoring and have shown some resistance in applying the standard. Therefore, we try and educate owners on how to utilise it – it is a fantastic tool to measure changes in hull and propeller performance. To some owners it might be seen as a means to try and twist it in the way of coating suppliers, but that is not correct.”
He explained the various benefits that shipowners can gain from ISO 19030: “It gives several options for the owner, not just for service performance over time. It is a very good way to evaluate what has transpired in performance since the last docking.”
Mr Kjølberg continued: “The performance can be measured for the first 12 months out of dock to set a reference line and that can be set up against recent dockings to see whether hull and propeller performance is stable, or has improved or declined.” He noted this allowed owners to link it to the surface preparation performed, whether it was a small touch-up or full docking. “Seeing the difference in performance can justify the cost of a full docking,” Mr Kjølberg said.
There are also other performance indicators in the standard, such as the maintenance trigger. Mr Kjølberg said: “When we start to see a decline in performance, we have a reference line; if we see things changing, shipowners can carry out inspections to see if cleaning is needed or if there has been any damage. They can take initiatives at a much earlier stage than before and thereby save huge amounts of money in additional fuel costs.”
If cleaning has been carried out, Mr Kjølberg pointed out that the improvement made by the cleaning and the length of time the improvement lasts can be measured.
“All these factors give owners additional ammunition to make good decisions. They do not need to invest in the most expensive coatings systems; it depends on the docking, age of vessel, trade route and other facts, upon which a proper evaluation can be made.”
Jotun and DNV GL have launched a series of ISO Standard 19030 conferences. The latest Hull Performance & Insight Conference was held in the UK in March. It highlights developments, challenges and advances that could help to further improve vessel performance and looks at the role of the standard and how it can be developed.
Mr Kjølberg added: “The standard is not 100%, but is good enough for practical application.” Once the standard is three years old, there will be opportunities for revision. “We will then have the experience to see where it can be improved,” he said, highlighting that discussions created by the Hull Performance & Insight Conference would be an important contributor to any developments within ISO 19030.
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