Akzo Nobel N.V., the globally reputed bulk & specialty chemicals industry player, has recently concluded an agreement with the Qatari marine firm Nakilat. The deal entails the Amsterdam headquartered chemical giant to continue supplying its Intersleek 1100SR foul release coatings to the latter.
For the uninitiated, the two major companies already boast of a long-term professional relationship. With the latest agreement, it is being speculated that over 640,000 liters of Intersleek 1100SR coatings will be successfully applied to 108 LNG vessels belonging to Nakilat, by the end of 2018.
Incidentally, AkzoNobel claims that Intersleek 1100SR, with a successful run in marine coatings market, effectively releases slime even at low speeds – that is to say, its application would provide vessels the added advantages of enhanced fuel efficiency, lowered CO2 emissions, and reduced drag. An official statement from the bulk & specialty chemicals industry major also claims that till date, Intersleek 1100SR boasts of more than 1,400 applications in totality.
Speaking on the successful closure of the current deal, Oscar Wezenbeek, Director, Marine, Protective and Yacht Coatings, AkzoNobel, states that the agreement has strengthened AkzoNobel’s already established relationship with Nakilat. He went on to add that the deal highlights AkzoNobel’s commitment to improve customer service apart from underlining the fact that vessel operators realize the advantages of pouring in capital in sustainable hull coatings.
According to AkzoNobel’s statement, fouling organisms that conveniently settle on the underwater hull have a highly hazardous impact on the fuel consumption of the ship. Reportedly, animal growth like barnacles or tubeworms mat lead to an increase of over 40% in fuel consumption, a layer of slime may lead to a rise in fuel consumption between 2% and 10%, while weed growth in the region may result in a rise of 10% and 30%.
For the record, the contract between the Dutch bulk & specialty chemicals industry behemoth and the Qatar marine market contender has been inked for a period of two years.