Hamburg Hosts Automatic Hull Coating Technology

The yard is the first in Europe to offer a new coating application system. Palfinger’s hull treatment carrier (HTC) removes coatings with water pressurised to 3,000 bar and applies paint at up to 1,200m2 an hour. Automatic surface preparation and painting mean that 30% less paint is used than with conventional methods.
“Our cooperation is an important building block to optimise our core areas of business after becoming part of the Luerssen Group late last year,” said Dieter Dehlke, CEO, Blohm+Voss. “We want to offer our customers innovative and cost-efficient solutions.”

Slowing speed loss

Workers at Blohm+Voss used HTC to remove part of the coating from Hapag-Lloyd containership Quebec Express in May last year.

According to Lutz Dyck, fleet director of the Hamburg-based shipping company, the process and further maintenance work contributed to improved performance. The partners noted that smoother application of anti-fouling coating leads to fuel and emission savings as a result of reduced drag.

“This has led to a 7% reduction in speed loss for the vessel,” said Dyck.
Blohm+Voss and Palfinger are offering introductory discounts for customers using the HTC system before 31 December. The service is available for all repair and refit projects.