Asia/Pacific News
Vroon Singapore Looks to Micanti Antifouling to Reduce Fuel Consumption
Vroon Offshore Services Pte. Ltd. (VOS) in Singapore says it has chosen Micanti Antifouling to boost bunker savings of its anchor-handling tug-supply (AHTS) vessel, VOS Triton.
"One of the Company's goals is the optimisation of fuel consumption, a challenge in an industry where vessels are often static or sailing at low speed," said VOS.
"Micanti Antifouling is recognised for its good performance, even when vessels are moored or sailing at low speed. The fact that the product is 100 percent environmentally friendly is an additional incentive for Vroon Offshore Services (VOS)."
Micanti Antifouling is a film that is said to differ from traditional coatings as it does not release solvents or chemicals upon application.
Vroon says the environmentally friendly benefits of Micanti Antifouling complement the Singapore market, where chemical waste disposal is both expensive and time-consuming for local shipyards, as the film can be disposed of with regular garbage.
Further, Vroon says that, because it closely monitors fuel its consumption, Micanti Antifouling will have an opportunity to better assess the product's ability to promote fuel savings on offshore vessels.
"In all of Vroon's vessel operations, marine growth results in increased fuel consumption. Despite using high-quality antifouling coatings, we continue to face issues with marine growth," said Filip Olde Bijvank, VOS Singapore Managing Director.
"At Group level, we have decided to start using Micanti Antifouling in the most severe conditions - offshore vessels operational in tropical water, but encountering long idle times."
In November, Gibraltar-based Gibdock announced that it had been awarded a "breakthrough" exhaust gas scrubber retrofit project that would see five vessels, operated by Norbulk Shipping and owned by Vroon B.V., fitted with the technology.
