{mprestriction ids="1,2"}Improving hull coatings or performing more regular hull and propeller cleaning are already widely accepted as effective preventive measures in minimising hull fouling.
However, DNV GL notes that there is no conclusive evidence showing which coating solution is the most effective or when and how often propellers need to be cleaned - so DNV GL will now provide Jotun with hull and propeller performance computations based on computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models that include the complete operational range of the vessel.
“This approach generates a much greater amount of baseline data than a conventional model tank test could deliver and provides customers with the information they need to prove that they reduced both fuel consumption and emissions to charterers, for example,” said Dr Torsten Büssow, DNV GL’s head of Fleet Performance Management.
The ECO Insight software creates computations which show how much resistance is added over time due to hull fouling, and provides the opportunity to benchmark measured hull and propeller degradation with other ships in a fleet, as well as relevant peer group averages.{/mprestriction}