Asia/Pacific News
GAC: HullWiper Diver-Free Hull Cleaning Technology Now Available in Singapore
The Gulf Agency Company Ltd. (GAC) EnvironHull Wednesday reported its diver-free hull cleaning technology, known as the HullWiper, is now available in Singapore.
"A clean hull significantly enhances vessel speed and performance by reducing resistance, thus decreasing carbon emissions and fuel consumption," explains GAC EnvironHull.
According to GAC EnvironHull, the remotely operated vehicle (ROV) cleans about five times faster than conventional cleaning methods with divers, reducing cleaning time by approximately half.
"The high-speed HullWiper ROV can clean up to 2,000 m² of hull per hour without causing any damage to anti-fouling surfaces, thanks to brushless technology which uses adjustable pressure water jets to remove marine fouling." GAC EnvironHull stated.
"As no divers are involved, cleaning can be done alongside during loading or discharging operations, and any risk to life is significantly reduced," GAC EnvironHull continued.
In addition to addressing time, cost and safety concerns associated with hull cleaning, GAC EnvironHull added "traditional hull cleaning methods using divers with brushes can present a risk to the delicate eco-system and damage expensive anti-fouling hull coatings."
"Residues and harmful marine growths captured during cleaning are disposed of in an environmentally-friendly manner instead of being discharged into the sea as done using traditional methods," explains GAC EnvironHull.
The ROV is being offered to vessels in Singapore through GAC EnvironHull's local partner, T&T Salvage Asia Pte Ltd (T&T).
According to EnvironHull, T&T will be the exclusive service provider for the promotion and supply of hull cleaning services using the HullWiper in Singapore and Malaysia.
The ROV was launched in late 2013 in the United Arab Emirates and has since been rolled out to other Middle East countries and in Sweden before being launched in Singapore.
"For Hullwiper to be launched in Singapore, it first had to be tested and certified by the local authorities as a safe method of hull cleaning," stated Christer Sjödoff, GAC Group Vice President, Solutions.
"I am pleased that HullWiper has passed all the tests thrown at it and is now able to start cleaning hulls in Asia for the first time," continued SjÖdoff.
Oman Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs (MECA) in November allowed GAC EnvironHull to apply for a licence to operate its hull cleaning technology at the port.
