WSS Launches New Cleaning Solutions
Wilhelmsen Ships Service (WSS) has developed a new range of marine cleaning solutions which aim to assist seafarers in meeting standards for safe and hygienic working practices at sea.
The Unitor EasyClean Galley and Accommodation range allows shipowners the flexibility to choose the most effective solution for maintaining a clean and healthy onboard environment.
Rune Nygaard, Product Marketing Manager, Marine Chemicals, WSS says: “Within the shipping industry, infectious diseases are recognized as an occupational hazard and are largely down to the close working and living conditions onboard. In addition, the lack of direct access to medical assistance can mean that the chances of a seafarer receiving proper and effective treatment are not as high as for those onshore.”
Nygaard adds that for shipowners, it is critical to reduce the amount of work days lost due to crew illness and infection by ensuring that the vessel maintains a safe and healthy environment. He says: “Because of the unique conditions that occur at sea, every vessel can be viewed as a self-contained eco-system. If cleaning standards onboard that vessel do not meet appropriate levels, problems can occur.”
The new Unitor EasyClean products are designed to limit negative impact on naturally occurring micro-organisms, while Unitor Gamazyme cleaning and treatment products actively assist the breakdown of organic material to keep waste water systems running freely and functioning properly.
Working at Wilhelmsen Chemicals, a production facility in Kjøpmannskjær near Tønsberg, Norway, Shirin Fanaian, Product Engineer, is one of the key developers of the new product range. Fanaian says: “The fact that we have our own marine chemicals factory here in Norway allows us to spend time on product R&D, in consultation with our customers. By considering market conditions and the challenges that seafarers face in today’s working environment, we can develop new products that meet the current regulations. The fact that everything is produced here means that we can offer a standardized range of cleaning materials that are available globally and yet are simple and safe to use.”
To support this, all Galley and Accommodation products are supplied with easy to follow usage and dosage instructions as well an e-learning program, accessible to all crewmembers.
Ultimately, as Nygaard explains, cleanliness is a vital part of good practice onboard vessels and one that should not be underestimated: “It sounds simple, but cleanliness feels good. The feeling you get after washing your hands or working in a newly cleaned environment is something that can’t be quantified and yet, for those living and working in the confines of a ship, it’s a vital factor in promoting a genuine sense of well-being among the crew.”
