New Hempel Anti-fouling Hull Coating

Hempel introduces HEMPAGUARD®, a new hull coating product for the shipping industry that offers outstanding resistance to fouling during idle periods and significant fuel savings. The new patented technology, ActiGuard®, has been five years in development and is based on silicone-hydrogel and biocide science.

Hempel say that their new HEMPAGUARD® has shown excellent fouling resistance of up to 120 days during idle periods, fuel savings of six per cent on average and offers the first performance satisfaction guarantee contract in the industry. The unique fouling defence system is available as two separate products: HEMPAGUARD® X5 and HEMPAGUARD® X7. They are so convinced of HEMPAGUARD®‘s performance that they offer a performance satisfaction guarantee contract for vessels complying with a full HEMPAGUARD® X7 specification.

ActiGuard® integrates silicone-hydrogel and full diffusion control of biocides in a single coating. Surface retention of the biocide activates the hydrogel, which effectively holds fouling organisms at bay, cutting friction to a minimum while utilizing a minimum amount of biocide. It also has the long-term stability and mechanical properties required of a durable solution. The technology enables controlled release of biocide by specially developed hydrogel precursor polymers via the active hydrogel micro-layer.

“Our goal was to re-think the market. By introducing this concept and a customer satisfaction guarantee contract, that is precisely what we have done,” says Fouling Control Marketing Manager Claes Skat-Rørdam.