GAC EnvironHull announced it has recently signed a contract with Statoil, an international energy company, that obligates GAC EnvironHull to offer underwater hull cleaning services for Statoil’s vessels in the Middle East, the Far East and Scandinavia.
Beginning in the second quarter of 2015, GAC EnvironHull -- which is part of GAC Group’s global shipping, marine services and logistics provider -- will implement its new technology in the contract. The company’s pioneering HullWiper technology is able to remove the fouling from hulls of long-term charter vessels, including those used in the Statoil fleet.
This cleaning technique will improve the vessels' efficiency and decrease the amount of fuel that the vessels consume. The new method also protects and preserves the marine life that is commonly found on hulls and similar environments.
HullWiper does not require divers. Instead, it uses an underwater hull Remote Operate Vehicle (ROV) to spray the hulls with high-pressure water jets. This enables the HullWiper to clean up to 2,000 square meters of hull each hour, which is five times faster than traditional methods. None of this damages the anti-fouling surfaces or marine life, and the cleaning can be quickly and efficiently accomplished during discharging or loading.
“The energy industry focuses on minimising the impact of their operations on the environment and HullWiper meets their high green standards and eliminates the risk to human life,” Simon Doran, managing director of GAC EnvironHull, said. “This contract represents an important milestone for GAC EnvironHull, as it further strengthens our steady position in a market with growing demands for cost-efficient and eco-friendly technology.”
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