Reduction in fuel consumption, CO2 emissions, sulphur emissions, super slow speed, increased fuel costs, bunker levies, its no wonder the shipping fraternity is very pro-active in its attempts to find solutions to the numerous challenges facing the industry today.

Hull cleanliness is one condition that contributes to a ships efficiency. A hull with a 100% coating of algal slime and patches of weed can experience as much as 12% increase in fuel consumption.

A new diverless solution to fouling known as Hull Surface Treatment or HST has been developed by Commercial Diving Services in Australia and is a world first offering ship owners a solution to an age old problem that is becoming increasingly difficult to control.

HST sterilises and kills the growth on the hull using thermal shock.

After the treatment has been applied, the dead growth remains on the hull while the ship is alongside and then as the vessel sails, is polished off over the next two to three weeks using the hydraulic forces of the water and wave action.

No anti-foul paint is disturbed thus preventing plumes of paint from being released into the surrounding water. HST does not pollute or damage the environment and as such has been approved by various environmental authorities for use in harbours and coastal regions.

The traditional method of preventing hull fouling is the use of biocide based anti-foul paints and regular scrubbing.

With an IMO ban on hull scrubbing the options for industry participants to keep their hull clean and efficient is limited.

This award winning technology has been used successfully by many shipping companies and has proven to be a cost effective alternative to conventional hull growth elimination.

HST is a significant step forward in managing hull performance and will assist ship owners in achieving their targets.