Energy Efficient Dry Cargo Vessel Coated with Ecospeed
The newbuild VG EcoCoaster ready to be launched. (Photo: Hydrex)
The bow of m/s Eeva VG prior to the final touches. (Photo: Hydrex)
Application of Ecospeed on topside of the vessel. (Photo: Hydrex)
Newbuild M/s Eeva VG prior to Ecospeed application. (Photo: Hydrex)
The thruster tunnel was coated with Ecoshield which is specifically designed to protect running gear. (Photo: Hydrex)
The thruster tunnel was coated with Ecoshield which is specifically designed to protect running gear. (Photo: Hydrex)
Both the top side and the underwater hull of the vessel were coated with Ecospeed. (Photo: Hydrex)
Both the top side and the underwater hull of the vessel were coated with Ecospeed. (Photo: Hydrex)
Ecospeed inspector checking the layer thickness of the coating. (Photo: Hydrex)
The rudder of the vessel was protected with Ecoshield. (Photo: Hydrex)
Newbuild M/S Eeva VG, the first of two very energy efficient dry cargo carriers managed by VG-Shipping, was coated with Ecospeed at the end of January ahead of her July 2016 delivery.
Both new ships are VG EcoCoasters and will operate in the Baltic region. They are owned by Meriaura Group of which VG-shipping is a part. The vessels were designed as a new ship concept by Meriaura together with its partners Foreship Ltd and Aker Arctic Technology Inc. and are engineered to reduce environmental impact. The hull and machinery of the newbuildings are optimized to the speed of 10.5 knots in open water conditions. Power required for Ice Class 1A is achieved by a diesel electric driven booster unit. The aim is to almost halve the fuel consumption compared to conventional dry cargo vessels of similar type and size, and therefore also cut emissions remarkably. The ships are capable of using alternative biofuels produced in VG-Shipping’s own refinery located in Uusikaupunki, Finland. The new vessels will meet all the maritime environmental regulations coming into force in the next few years and in many cases will even exceed them.
Meriaura Group has entered into a contract with Dutch shipyard Royal Bodewes for the building of the vessels. M/s Eeva VG was launched on February 5 and has a planned delivery at the end of July. The second vessel is expected to follow in the autumn of 2016. Application of Ecospeed on this vessel is already well in progress.
These vessels were designed with a substantial reduction of fuel consumption as well as emissions in mind. It was therefore essential that they were protected with a lasting coating system that would help the owners achieve their ecological goals instead of working against them.
Ecospeed is an environmentally safe ship hull coating system which in itself is already an important benefit for a company like the Meriaura Group that take ecological responsibilities seriously.
However, Ecospeed ties in even better with the design of the VG EcoCoasters. The coating system improves a ship’s performance while at the same time providing lasting protection. It consists of a unique, entirely original and thoroughly proven system that combines the advantages of an easy-to-apply superior coating, a surface treatment for hydrodynamic optimization and a long term underwater maintenance service system.
One of the many unique factors of this underwater hull coating system is that with repeated underwater hull cleaning, the coating’s surface aspect does not degrade but gradually improves. This procedure is made easy by the coating’s technical properties. Cleaning can be carried out whenever needed, at any point in its lifespan, without causing damage.
One major cruise line has been quoted as saying that they are saving 20 percent on fuel costs with Ecospeed compared to the earlier TBT coating which they replaced. Another owner found that they gained 3 knots over sea trials speed when they replaced their hull coating with Ecospeed.
