AkzoNobel Promises Big Data Bunker Savings from New Hull Coating Analysis Tool

In addition to estimating fuel savings, the tool can perform a cost benefit analysis between different hull coatings prior to application.

AkzoNobel has launched a new tool that will help estimate the potential fuel and carbon dioxide (CO2) savings of fouling control coatings before they are applied, the company announced in an emailed statement. 

Intertrac Vision reportedly "combines an understanding of total hull roughness (micro and macro) and ‘roughness’ associated with biofouling," and can calculate powering requirements, fuel consumption, fuel cost, CO2 emission predictions and can perform a cost benefit analysis between different hull coatings. 

"Collectively, Intertrac Vision comprises hundreds of thousands of datasets, making it the shipping industry’s first Big Data solution to accurately predict the performance of a coating technology prior to application," said AkzoNobel.

The company said that the software has been in development for over four years and was also worked upon by experts at the University College London Energy Institute, MARIN, Newcastle University and more than 30 ship owners and operators worldwide.

“While all technology providers, including those producing hull coatings, have long since offered insight into the fuel and CO2 saving potential of their solutions, ship owners have maintained a degree of skepticism around performance prediction," said Tristan Smith, Lecturer at the University College London Energy Institute.

"The lack of accurate and transparent supporting data underpinning statistics quoted has contributed to this mindset."

The tool is being offered as a free service. 

"Hull coatings play a key role in a vessel’s profitability and sustainability due to the fuel and CO2 savings that can be delivered and ship owners want tangible proof of the benefit prior to application," said Michael Hindmarsh, Project Lead for Intertrac Vision.

"Through Intertrac Vision, we can bring a new level of transparency and choice to the industry, working with customers consultatively to ensure that the most effective and appropriate coatings solution is selected for each vessel within a fleet.”

Ship & Bunker previously reported that some experts have described marine coatings as "low hanging fruit" for fuel efficiency.