Hat trick of award nominations for advanced hull coating technology results in efficiency acclaim from RINA and Seatrade

Thursday, May 22, 2014

AkzoNobel’s Marine Coatings business, International, is celebrating the success of its Intersleek®1100SR technology following a series of nominations and award wins from RINA, Seatrade and Riviera Maritime.

Intersleek 1100SR, the shipping industry’s first biocide-free foul release fluoropolymer technology that addresses the significant issue of slime fouling on ship hulls, was recently awarded the 2013 RINA – QinetiQ Maritime Innovation Award at the Institution’s Annual Dinner. This was the first occasion this Award has been presented and Intersleek 1100SR was chosen from 17 entries worldwide.

The Royal Institution of Naval Architects and QinetiQ’s new award acknowledges outstanding scientific or technological research in the areas of hydrodynamics, propulsion, structures and materials. The award recognises innovations that offer the potential to make significant improvements in the design, construction and operation of marine vessels and structures. 

Intersleek 1100SR delivers macro and micro fouling control with improved static resistance, even in warm waters and is suitable for slow steaming. The movement of the ship through water can release slime that builds up during static periods. As a result, vessels can achieve reduced drag, improved fuel efficiency and reduced CO2 emissions.

Intersleek 1100SR also received the Clean Shipping award at the 2014 Seatrade Awards last month. The Clean Shipping category was sponsored by classification society ABS and celebrates new, or significant improvements of existing technology, which help to create a cleaner shipping industry. HRH The Princess Royal and Mr. Koji Sekimizu, Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organisation, presented the award.

Intersleek 1100SR was also nominated for the Riviera Maritime Fuel Efficiency award at the April 2014 Marine Propulsion Conference.

Trevor Solomon, Intersleek Business Manager, said: “At today’s bunker prices, the effects of slime potentially costs the shipping industry 44 million extra tonnes of bunker fuel, $28.6 billion in additional fuel costs and an extra 134 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions every year*. It is a key issue that impacts every ship owner and operator.

“The development of Intersleek 1100SR is therefore a significant milestone for us and we are very pleased that this has been recognised by the industry. Building upon earlier generations of the technology, the tailored surface chemistry of the latest product specifically influences and resists the adhesion and settlement of organisms that make up slime colonisation.”

The introduction of Intersleek 1100SR continues the company’s long history of fouling release development. In 1996, it launched the first and original silicone based Intersleek 425 for fast craft. In 1999, Intersleek 700 silicone technology was introduced to bring foul release to deep-sea scheduled vessels. In 2007, the introduction of Intersleek®900, the original biocide-free foul release product based on fluoropolymer technology, meant that foul release was available for all vessels above 10 knots. Intersleek 1100SR, the newest addition to the range, has become the first ever fluoropolymer slime release coating for all vessels.

With over 1,700 individual applications, Intersleek has the largest foul release track record within the industry